Scalp Expansion Introduction
Tissue expansion is a technique used in conjunction with scalp surgery to increase the size and looseness of hair bearing scalp. Regions at the front and top of the head are genetically predisposed to hair loss in many individuals, whereas a region called the donor at area the sides and back of the scalp is resistant to hair loss. Hair loss is divided into seven different categories. Select any example to see the hair loss progression for that particular type.
Tissue expansion is often used to enlarge the hair-bearing donor area for restoring areas of hair loss resulting from injury or illness. A scalp expansion physically stretches donor scalp skin over a period of weeks to months prior to surgically removing balding scalp tissue and advancing the hair-bearing skin from the sides of the scalp to replace it. This process allows removal of much more of a balding area and requires far fewer procedures than scalp reduction alone because it uses expanders underneath the scalp to enlarge the flaps of hair-bearing skin.