Soft tissue expansion is widely used technique in plastic surgery and provide new method of reconstruction in postburn or posttraumatic alopecia, wide scar, tattoo, benign tumor, congenital deformity of ear or hand and deformed breast, etc.
During recent 3 years, we experienced soft tissue expansion in 29 cases and evaluated the operative techniques, results and complications as follows.
l. Tissue expansion is very effective in soft tissue reconstruction, especially in scalp for young age. But, it needs careful selection of patient in application for reconstruction of face, neck or extremity.
2. We experienced major complications in 6 cases(20 %)as implant exposure, skin necrosis and infection. In these cases, the expanders were removed immediately and applied secondary insertion after 5 or 6 months.
3. Minor complications as partial necrosis on wound margin, bullae on skin, hematoma, pain or tightness and pressure on the valve were found in 7 cases(24 %)which made full expansion with careful conservative management.
4. Sufficient preoperative evaluation and careful patient selection with expander type should be done before tissue expansion, and so better results will be obtain.
The soft tissue expansion is simple and useful method, but it needs more study and clinical experiences which will provide the better aesthetic results.
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