Reconstructive procedure to promote the growth of healthy skin and replace damaged tissue
Tissue expansion surgery is used to ‘grow new skin’ as part of a procedure to repair damaged or scarred skin. This may be as a result of birth defects, accidents or following surgery. The procedure can be carried out in almost any area of the body, in particular, areas of the face, neck, arms, hands, and legs.
Tissue expansion surgery is also used for reconstruction following breast removal as well as in restorative burn surgery.
During tissue expansion surgery, a silicone balloon expander is inserted under the skin near to where the area needs to be repaired. Once in position, the balloon is slowly filled with a saline solution enabling the skin to stretch and grow (which can take up to several months). When the new skin has reached the optimal size, the silicone balloon expander is removed and the new skin is distributed over the damaged area to be treated.
Alternative procedures to tissue expansion use existing skin from other parts of the body in the form of a skin graft. Tissue expansion surgery is often preferred as the skin remains connected to the same blood and nerve supply as the damaged area. As the block of tissue is from the same area, cosmetically the results are better as the new skin will have the same colour, texture and hair growth qualities. Given that the new skin is not moved from another areas, scars are also often less extensive and visible with tissue expansion surgery.
