Tissue Expansion in the Head and Neck
September 2019
in “
Atlas of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinics
”
TLDR Tissue expansion for head and neck reconstruction has good blood supply and doesn't need capsule removal, but expect temporary hair loss with normal growth resuming after 6-8 months.
The document from 2019 details the use of tissue expansion as a reconstructive technique for head and neck defects, focusing on scalp defects. It outlines the selection of expander shape, placement, and management, emphasizing the need to match tissue characteristics and plan flaps before insertion. The surgical procedure, including incision creation and expander positioning, is described, along with the timing of fluid injections and the determination of sufficient expansion. Complications such as erosion, leakage, and infection are discussed, with strategies for mitigation and management. The document concludes that expanded tissue has better vascularity than other flaps, the prosthetic capsule does not require removal post-expansion, and while hair follicles are not reproduced during scalp expansion, resulting in temporary hair loss, normal hair growth typically resumes after 6 to 8 months.
