Tissue expansion in dermatologic surgery

Reconstructive scar revision as a result of cutaneous malignancy, trauma, or cicatricial inflammatory disease can be augmented by tissue expansion. This more complicated, two-staged procedure provides expansion of adjacent, normal skin that is advanced as a flap to reconstruct defects with tissue of good color and texture match. Its adaptation in dermatology to scalp reduction for cicatricial alopecia and other cutaneous disease is described.