Tissue Expanders are designed for use in two-stage breast reconstruction. Depending on whether one is dealing with an immediate or a delayed reconstruction, the tissue expander is either placed at the time of the mastectomy or during a subsequent procedure. As the tissue expander fills, the tissues over the expander begin to stretch, similar to the gradual expansion of a woman’s abdomen during pregnancy. The tissue expander creates a new breast-shaped pocket for a breast implant. The tissue expander is replaced with a permanent saline or silicone implant after it has been completely expanded.
Images from BreastCancer.org
