title: A history of tissue expansion. Concepts, controversies, and complications.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tissue expansion has become a widely used adjunct in reconstruction of the skin.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To trace the history of the concept of tissue expansion from the ancient to the latest medical literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the technologic developments in the materials and methods of tissue expansion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tissue expansion is of clinical importance and can be understood by the biochemical, biomechanical, and histologic features of expanded skin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tissue expansion is becoming widely used and accepted and its continued use under many circumstances is justified by the experimental and clinical results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine (Dermatology), University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D004867:Equipment Design; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D012867:Skin / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods; D015626:Tissue Expansion / Q000266:history* / Q000379:methods; D015625:Tissue Expansion Devices / Q000266:history