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Tissue expander placement is surgery to put an inflatable device beneath the skin. Gradual filling stretches the overlying tissue so it can cover an area that needs reconstruction. Expanders are used in staged breast reconstruction and in repairs involving other parts of the body.
read more about tissue expander placement ...A surgeon may use an expander when the available skin cannot cover a planned repair without tension. It can help create tissue for breast reconstruction or for repair near a scar, injury, or birth difference. The condition of the skin and any planned radiation treatment affect the surgical plan.
The surgeon creates a pocket beneath the tissue and inserts the expander. After the incision heals, the device is filled in stages, commonly with saline through a built-in port. Once there is enough tissue, another operation removes the expander and completes the reconstruction.
Patients return for filling visits over a period set by the surgeon. Temporary tightness or discomfort can follow a fill as the skin stretches. The team checks the incision and skin at each stage before adding more volume.
Risks include infection, wound problems, expander exposure, and leakage or rupture of the device. An infected or damaged expander may need to be removed. Expansion takes repeated visits and may leave a noticeable bulge until the final reconstruction.
It is usually a temporary device. A later operation removes it and uses the expanded tissue for reconstruction or replaces it with a permanent breast implant.
A fill can cause temporary pressure or tightness. Tell the care team if discomfort is severe or does not settle.
Yes. They can create additional skin for selected repairs of the scalp, face, limbs, and other areas. The surgeon assesses whether nearby skin is suitable for expansion.
A leaking saline expander may lose volume, and the saline is absorbed by the body. The surgeon will assess whether it needs replacement or removal.
Breast Reconstruction Using a Tissue Expander. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-education/breast-reconstruction-using-tissue-expander. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions. UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. https://cancer.ucsf.edu/breastcarecenter/treatment/surgical_oncology/reconstruction/faqs. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.
Tissue Expanders for Breast Reconstruction. City of Hope. https://www.cityofhope.org/conditions-cancer-types/breast-cancer/breast-reconstruction-surgery/tissue-expanders. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.
Tissue Expansion. Nationwide Children's Hospital. https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/specialties/plastic-and-reconstructive-surgery/tissue-expansion. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.
Tissue expansion: Concepts, techniques and unfavourable results. PubMed Central (PMC). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3901915/. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.