Skin Surgery

Tissue expansion

This is a technique used by surgeons to incite the body into growing additional patches of skin, bone or other tissues, which are often used in reconstruction procedures.

An inflatable expander is inserted under the skin, close to the area that is to be repaired, and over a period of weeks or months is injected with a saline solution in order to slowly stretch the overlaying skin.

Tissue expansion is commonly used in breast reconstruction, but it’s also used to repair skin damage and birth defects.