Rev Stomatol Chir Maxillofac. 2007;108:411

Skin expansion in cicatricial alopecia of the scalp

Drissi Qeytoni H, et al

INTRODUCTION: Skin expansion technique used to increase the hair surface available at the scalp level was a major breakthrough in the surgical treatment of important cicatricial alopecia. This article had for aim to define the importance and limits of this technique in the treatment of hair loss. snip.. The rate of major complications leading to total failure of the process reached 5.5%. The final result was considered good in 90% of the cases. DISCUSSION: The results demonstrate that skin expansion technique is a simple, reliable, and efficient method in the healing of important cicatricial hair loss of scalp. It enables a wider use of the classical local flap technique, by expanding the surface and vascularization allowing for a direct suturing of the donor site. Skin expansion holds an important place in the treatment of significant skin cicatricial alopecia, since it represents the only surgical solution when the alopecia area exceeds 50 cm2.