Webbing of the neck: correction by tissue expansion

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Reconstructive Surgery
• Dermatology

Background:

• Neck webbing (pterygium colli) and low hairlines present significant cosmetic concerns.
• Existing surgical techniques like Z-plasty, butterfly correction, and lateral cervical advancement flaps often result in disfiguring scars and potential recurrence.
• These methods can transpose hair-bearing skin anteriorly or leave scars on the posterior neck, with recurrence risk due to skin tension.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a new surgical technique for correcting neck webbing and associated low hairlines.
• To evaluate the efficacy of tissue expanders in addressing skin deficiency in the lateral neck.
• To minimize scarring and recurrence rates compared to established surgical procedures.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing tissue expanders to gradually expand the insufficient skin of the lateral neck.
• Advancing the expanded posterior skin to correct the webbing deformity.
• Excising redundant skin after expander removal and closing the incision within the hairline.

Main Results:

• Successful correction of the webbing deformity and the low hairline.
• Minimized visible scarring, with a small vertical scar in the midline and a horizontal scar within the occipital hairline.
• Reduced risk of recurrence due to adequate skin coverage and decreased tension.

Conclusions:

• Tissue expander-assisted reconstruction offers an effective solution for neck webbing and low hairlines.
• This technique provides superior aesthetic outcomes with less noticeable scarring compared to conventional methods.
• The described approach enhances patient satisfaction by addressing both the deformity and cosmetic concerns effectively.