title: Tissue expansion in the head and neck.
abstract: Tissue expansion can be a valuable adjunct in reconstruction of large defects of the head and neck and is particularly useful in the scalp and forehead region. This article discusses the differences between conventional long-term expansion and rapid intraoperative expansion. Careful expander selection and application can allow extensive reconstructions with adjacent tissues that might otherwise be impossible. Complications are rare and usually avoidable with careful attention and technique.
authors.affiliation: Spokane Center for Facial Plastic Surgery, 217 W. Cataldo, Spokane, WA 99201, USA. johnhoffmann@comcast.net
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
mesh_terms: D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D040521:Subcutaneous Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D015626:Tissue Expansion / Q000379:methods