title: A scalp garment for prestretching prior to alopecia-reducing procedures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This article demonstrates a scalp stretching device that improves scalp laxity prior to alopecia reducing procedures. This device replaces the former use of vigorous, preoperative scalp stretching exercises.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To improve scalp laxity prior to alopecia-reducing procedures by using a device rather than vigorous prestretching exercises, which are physically fatiguing.
  
  
  METHODS
  A scalp stretching device was developed that uses the principle of cyclic loading in the immediate preoperative period and the principle of biologic creep during the month prior to the procedure. This device is simply applied by patients at home for 30 minutes per day starting 30 days before an alopecia-reducing procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The device demonstrates ease of use for the patients and does not require any physical activity on their part. It accomplishes the same improvement in laxity that prestretching exercises formerly achieved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The scalp stretching garment introduced improves the laxity of the scalp prior to alopecia-reducing procedures with no physical exertion being required by the patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Brandy
mesh_terms: D000505:Alopecia / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012535:Scalp / Q000601:surgery*