What is tissue expansion? It is a procedure that allows your body to essentially grow extra skin for use in reconstructing almost any part of the body. In order to expand tissue, a qualified and licensed plastic surgeon will use a silicone balloon expander. This is inserted under the skin near the area that needs to be repaired. Slowly, the balloon is filled with salt water, causing the skin to stretch under the pressure of the balloon.
This procedure is used in a variety of different contexts. In many cases, plastic surgeons use the technique to expand the skin for breast reconstruction after a breast removal. It can also be used to repair skin damaged by birth defects.
Furthermore, if skin is damaged by an accident, such as a burn or a car crash, tissue expansion can give surgeons more skin to work with during reconstruction. You may want to consider tissue expansion if you plan on having breast reconstruction but do not have enough skin to accommodate the implant size that you desire. You can also undergo tissue expansion if you need to repair or replace areas of your scalp, or if you are reconstructing areas of the face, neck, hands, arms, and legs.
Cutting-edge skin expansion procedures now make it possible to achieve near-perfect matches of the color, texture, and hair-bearing qualities of a person’s skin. Because the skin remains connected to the donor area’s blood and nerve supply, there isn’t much of a chance that the skin will die. Also, scars are often less apparent using this method because there is no skin grafting involved. Contact the West Coast Plastic Surgery Center today if you want more information about tissue expansion. Dr. Yuly Gorodisky is a board-certified plastic surgeon whom you can trust to assist in your case!