Tissue Expansion and Serial Excision in Scar Revision

The document from 2001 reviews tissue expansion and serial excision as surgical techniques for scar revision in the head and neck area. These methods rely on the skin's ability to stretch and grow, providing additional tissue that matches the defect in color, texture, and contour. Histopathological changes in expanded skin are detailed, and the advantages of these techniques, such as increased skin for flaps and enhanced flap survival, are highlighted. The paper describes two tissue expansion techniques: prolonged tissue expansion (PTE) and rapid intraoperative tissue expansion (RITE), noting that complications are rare and infection rates are below 1%. Serial excision is presented as an alternative method involving multiple procedures to remove scars incrementally. The document concludes that both techniques effectively use the skin's biomechanical properties for cosmetic closure of defects.