[Use of tissue expanders on the scalp].

Tissue expanders have emerged recently as a new option for the treatment of alopecia. The method consists in expanding the scalp beyond the defective area. In this way, some disadvantages like the alterations in the donor area and low density of hair follicles, that may result from other techniques, are avoided. We present our experience with tissue expanders in the treatment of 32 patients with alopecia. The extent of these areas varied from 30 to 150 cm2, and the causes were: burn sequels in 12 patients; trauma sequels in ten; tumoral resections in ten; giant nevus pilosus in four and baldness (male standard) in two patients. The resection of the area with alopecia and the replacement by normal adjacent tissue was possible without any complications in all cases. However some disadvantages were observed. They included the necessity for a second surgical procedure because of marked deformity of the cephalic segment.