Tissue expander reconstruction is a two-stage procedure involving tissue expanders and breast implants. The tissue expander is a temporary implant placed in the breast area at the time of mastectomy. Over the course of a few weeks, saline fluid is added to the expander until it has reached the approximate size of your reconstructed breast. Then, a second, minor surgery is performed to replace the tissue expander with a long-term breast implant of your choosing.
Tissue expander reconstruction is an especially appropriate option for women who will not need radiation treatment following their mastectomy, as radiation may interfere with implant healing. It may also be a better choice for women who do not have enough body fat or tissue to reconstruct the breast using tissue transfer methods. In addition, using implants to reconstruct the breasts offers a better level of predictability and symmetry, and is an outpatient process that comes with a shorter recovery time than tissue flap reconstruction. However, enlarging the tissue expander can take several weeks, and you may be restricted to a smaller final implant size depending on what level of expansion is safe for your skin and body type.