Over Expanded Tissue Expansion for Facial Scars

Hafezi, F.; Naghibzadeh, B.; Pegah Mehr, M.; Nouhi, A.H.

Over Expanded Tissue Expansion for Facial Scars

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

F. Hafezi ¹

B. Naghibzadeh ²

M. Pegah Mehr ³

A.H. Nouhi ⁴

¹ Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery, Iran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, ST Fatima Hospital, Tehran, Iran

² Associate Professor of ENT Surgery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Tehran, Iran

³ General Surgeon, Iran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Motahary Burn and Reconstructive Hospital, Tehran, Iran

⁴ General Practitioner, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction & Objective: Successful inflation of the expander device and coverage of the face with
tissue of similar color and texture is usually limited by the amount of skin generated. Selecting a smaller
device and over expanding it produces more flap generation and an overall better reconstructive outcome.
Materials & Methods: Described are the experiences encountered from 32 patients in whom a total of
52 expanders were inserted; 29 patients were burn victims with head and neck scars, one case was of a giant
hairy nevus and two were post mastectomy patients. In all cases, a smaller device was applied with subsequent
overexpansion to 2-4 times its registered volume.
Results: In using the above technique, we gained more transferable skin which was used to cover the
defects. In comparing our results to previous studies, the rate of major and minor complications was the same.
Illustrations of several representative cases are submitted.
Conclusions: Meticulous surgical techniques using smaller non-tension bearing incisions are important
in minimizing complication rates of the procedure, ensuring its success, and allowing for salvage in case of
any mishaps.

Keywords

Tissue Expander

Over Expansion

Facial Scar