ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To comparatively study the difference of the skin expansion rate and instantly expanded skin retraction rate between implantation of double overlapping expanders and implantation of one single expander.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From Mar. 2009 to Mar. 2012, 22 cases with 39 sites for skin expansion, received double overlapping expanders in 24 sites, single expander in 15 sites. The area of original skin and expanded skin was measured by "wet-cloth sampling". Then the skin expansion rate was calculated. A distance of 5 cm at the center of expanded skin was re-measured after taking out the expanders. Then the instantly skin retraction rate was calculated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>During the same expansion period, the skin expansion rate was (3.5 +/- 0.9)% with the double overlapping expanders and (2.6 +/-0.6)% with one single expander, showing a significant difference between the two groups (P = 0. 002), while the instantly skin retraction rate was not statistically different [(30.3 +/- 0.8)% vs (32.3 +/- 0.9)%; P = 0.47)]. There was a negative relationship between the instantly skin retraction rate and the expansion period (r = -0.768).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The skin expansion rate can be increased with double overlapping expanders, while the instantly skin retraction rate doesn' t decrease. So the skin expansion efficiency is increased to reduce the re-expansion times for the patients with large lesions.</p>
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Plastic Surgery Procedures , Methods , Tissue Expansion , Methods , Tissue Expansion DevicesABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Penile enhancement was performed using acellular dermal matrix.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Multiple layers of acellular dermal matrix were placed underneath the penile skin to enlarge its girth. Since March 2002, penile augmentation has been performed on 12 cases using acellular dermal matrix.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Postoperatively all the patients had a 1.3-3.1 cm (2.6 cm in average) increase in penile girth in a flaccid state. The penis had normal appearance and feeling without contour deformities. All patients gained sexual ability 3 months after the operation. One had a delayed wound healing due to tight dressing, which was repaired with a scrotal skin flap.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Penile enlargement by implantation of multiple layers of acellular dermal matrix was a safe and effective operation. This method can be performed in an outpatient ambulatory setting. The advantages of the acellular dermal matrix over the autogenous dermal fat grafts are elimination of donor site injury and scar and significant shortening of operation time.</p>