Forehead Lift: Q&A
Ask a QuestionWhat Does Scalp Expansion Surgery Involve? (photo)
I had a skin graft operation back in 2012 on my scalp. My surgeon said that I could get the size of the graft reduced to allow more hair. I did a bit of research, and the surgery is called scalp expansion. What does it involve? How many surgeries would there be? How long would it take? How long is the recovery? Would I have to stay in the hospital overnight? And, most importantly- would they have to shave my head? I'm just upset because there's no hair growing where the graft is. It's embarrassing.
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8 Doctor Answers |
Asked by
Morgan505
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Scalp expanding surgery for missing hair in scars
Tissue expanders are very useful in scalp expansion. The "balloons" are placed next the the skin graft area and inflated over 30 days. This is an outpatient procedure. Next the grafted area is excised and the newly expanded scalp is advanced to cover the area. This is also an outpatient procedure. Insurance sometimes covers it.
Good luck!
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Scalp Tissue Expanders To Reconstruct Scalp
The scalp tissue expansion would involve placing 1 or 2 tissue expanders within the scalp in one operation. Hospital stay is not necessary. Then, these would be filled and expanded in multiple office visits over the next several months. Then operation 2 would involve removing the expanders and rotating a scalp flap to cover the defect of the skin graft, which will be excised. No hospital stay necessary here either. The main...
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Several Methods for "Scalp Expansion"
Your problem is more common than you might think. Expanding the scalp to take the place of a bald skin grafted area can be done several ways. A small area can be covered by hair bearing scalp by removing small amounts of the skin graft at a time and advancing the hair bearing scalp in increments. This can be done under local or general and has little down time. Usually shaving of hair does not need to be done. Larger areas can be closed with "scalp flaps". This can be done...
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Scalp Expansion
First of all, it would be necessary to know the size of the bald skin graft to recommend a surgical approach. An expander is sometimes not necessary. Expansion involves the placement of a deflated balloon under the hair-bearing scalp which is stretched by the serial injection of saline into the expander. Skin will stretch if this is done slowly - pregnancy is an excellent example.The length of expansion will be 6-12 weeks depending on the size of the graft you want to remove. The second...
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Scalp expansion
Large defects in the scalp are difficult to close, in those cases a tissue expander is inserted near the defect, some times one needs two expanders. The incision used is in the bold or scarred area. Once the wound heals then expansion starts by injecting salt water into the expander which then baloons gradualy and stretches the skin, very simmilar to oregnancy.
A second surgery is needed to remove the expander, may be score the galea and advance the stretched skin to cover the defect.
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Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
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What Does Scalp Expansion Surgery Involve?
Scalp expansion is very effective. The scalp does not stretch as much as one would expect. Therefore, for a large scalp defect that local tissue flaps won't cover a scalp expander is placed under the scalp in a short surgical procedure. This is then sequentially expanded with saline over a period of several months until adequate expansion has been achieved. During the second and final procedure, the expander would be deflated and removed and the skin graft would also be cut out and replaced...
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What Does Scalp Expansion Surgery Involve?
Scalp expansion consists of at least two surgeries. The first one places tissue expanders under the scalp in one or more locations depending on how much extra scalp is required. The expanders are then injected periodically over the next 6-8 weeks to slowly stretch the scalp. The second surgery is then done to remove the expander(s) and perform the scalp surgery. More specifics on your particular case would be required to give you more specific information.
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Scalp Reconstruction With Excision Of Skin Graft
Hair is never going to grow in a scalp skin graft. Therefore, excision of the skin graft to bring the hair-bearing portions of the scalp is the only way to get 'hair growing' in the area again. Depending on the size of the scalp defect, there are two approaches to use. Cut out the skin graft in one or two stages and pull the scalp together. Or place tissue expanders to stretch out the scalp first and cut out the skin graft all at one time. What is clear from these scenarios is that a...
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These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.
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