Advanced
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
tissue expander
Inflatable device placed under healthy skin to create additional tissue for burn reconstruction.
Full Definition
A tissue expander is a silicone balloon-like device surgically placed beneath healthy skin adjacent to burn scars or areas requiring reconstruction. The expander is gradually inflated with saline over weeks or months, causing the overlying skin to stretch and grow new tissue. This expanded skin can then be used to cover burn areas or replace scar tissue, providing better color and texture match than distant grafts. Tissue expansion is particularly useful for facial and scalp reconstruction where cosmetic appearance is critical.
In Context
- "A tissue expander was placed in the scalp to provide coverage for the temporal burn area." — Operative report
- "The tissue expander will be inflated weekly until adequate skin is available for reconstruction." — Treatment plan
Also known as
skin expander
balloon expander
Don't confuse with
implant
prosthesis