[Expansion prostheses in restorative and esthetic surgery of the head]

The authors discuss the results of 29 cases of tissue expansion, using 40 expanders, at the head and neck level, in an attempt to achieve a constructive self-criticism. The results have been classified into excellent (18 over 28 cases), good (4/29), fair (3/29) and poor (4/29). Complications were those usually reported: pain, infection, wound dehiscence, reservoir failure. In summary, 23 of 29 patients have definitely gained from tissue expansion. The remaining 6 cases considered as failures are carefully discussed leading to some practical conclusions.