J Korean Soc Aesthetic Plast Surg.
1997 Oct;3(1):31-39.
Facial skin resurfacing with tissue expansion
Abstract
- In the past years skin grafts, local flaps and free flaps have been used in reconstructing skin of soft tissue defects and deformities of the face where primary closure is not feasible. A number of local flaps have been used for reconstruction of facial defects and deformities, but the size of a defect that could be treated in such a way was restricted and the donor site deformity was another problem of local flaps. Introduction of the tissue expansion technique has made it possible to cover even wider defects with neighboring skin and advantageous in facial reconstruction in that such defects can be resurfaced with skin of similar color, texture and thickness, a match superior to that of skin obtained elsewhere. We used tissue expanders in reconstructing defects and deformities of the face(post-burn scar ; 17cases, post-traumatic scar ; 7cases, congenital nevus ; 3cases, total 27cases) from Mar. 1990 to Sep. 1996. We used expanders of various size and shape according to the site and size of the defects. We prefered to use round or croissant type tissue expander for the reconstruction of small-sized scar on medial cheek and to use rectangular type expander for large-sized scar on lateral cheek. Ports are placed under the scar or scalp. Expansion period ranged from 28days to 97days (mean 7weeks) and overinflation (mean 170%) was done. And various methods are used for prevention of complication. We have made anchoring sutures of the remained capsule to the underlying periosteum for prevention of ectropion. We have got satisfactory results from that aesthetically and functionally, so report the results with a review of the current literature.
