What does the expander look like?
A tissue expander looks a lot like a breast implant, although it has a thicker outer shell than breast implants. There is a port on the front of the expander.
How long does tissue expander stay in?
But keeping the fluid filled expander means that you don’t need to have a second operation. If you are having the expander left in, your surgeon inflates it until it is slightly larger than your natural size. They leave it for 2 to 3 months.
Is a tissue expander painful?
Tissue expanders are temporary, expandable, balloon-like devices used after mastectomy to stretch breast skin and chest wall muscles so that the breast implants can be adequately accommodated. Because of the stretching involved, tissue expanders can be painful.
What is a tissue expander used for?
Tissue expanders are used after a mastectomy to increase the amount of tissue doctors have to work with when they’re recreating or implanting a breast. They may be placed during a mastectomy or in a second surgery after you’ve healed and finished cancer treatment.
Is a tissue expander permanent?
You will visit your doctor between 7-10 times in the first three months, and then yearly after the reconstruction stages are completed. The tissue expander will be replaced with a permanent prosthesis in 3-6 months. Implants may require removal or replacement at some time in the future.
How are tissue expanders attached?
Placing your tissue expander There are 2 ways to place your tissue expander: Submuscular placement is when your surgeon places the expander under your large pectoralis muscle in your chest. They will make a pocket under the muscle and place your tissue expander in that space.
How long can you leave breast expanders in?
The tissue expanders will remain in place for a minimum of 8 weeks after completing the last tissue expansion.
What is gingival hyperplasia (gingival enlargement)?
What is Gingival Hyperplasia (Gingival Enlargement)? Gingival hyperplasia, also referred to as gingival enlargement, is the overgrowth of gum tissue around your teeth. The affected gum tissue often becomes inflamed, which is a symptom of gingivitis (mild gum disease).
What is the gingival tissue?
Gingival tissue is the area around the root of the tooth that helps keep the tooth in place. Depending on where the gingival tissue is in relation to the tooth, it may be called one of two names. The gum tissue that is attached to the alveolar bone is called free gingiva.
What is a tissue expander?
In much the same way, tissue expanders prompt skin tissue to grow and expand. A tissue expander is a balloon-like device with a soft, expandable polymer shell designed to hold liquid. Dr.
What is a free gingival graft?
A free gingival graft was used in order to replace the lip tissue attaching to the tooth to a more healthier and stronger gum tissue. Patients are sometimes born with thin gum tissue that can recede during normal brushing habits.