Breast Expansion
In the 1980s an important discovery was made regarding the breast and breast tissue. Namely, that if breast tissues and skin are placed under a gradual, stretching pressure they will not only stretch, but more skin and tissue will grow. This works similar to pregnancy in how the skin stretches and grows. This discovery has revolutionized breast implant procedures, leading to huge leaps forward in breast reconstruction. Breast tissue expanders are similar to breast implants, due to their similar properties.
Expanders
A breast tissue expander is formed from silicone, just like a breast implant. Also just like a breast implant, the expander will be filled with a saline solution to give the breast a more natural look and feel. This is accomplished by placing the expander so that the wider base is against the chest, since the expander narrows like a tear drop to mimic natural breast shape. However, a breast tissue expander also has a metal lined port on the side of it that regular breast implants don't have. This port must be located on a weekly basis so that the doctor can insert a small needle into the port and inject more saline into the expander. As time passes the breast tissue expander will grow fuller, and the breast tissue will swell and grow to accommodate the increased size.
Afterwards
A breast tissue expander is more of a preparatory surgery than a final solution. Once the breast tissue has expanded to the desired size again, the breast tissue expander will be removed and a regular breast implant will be put in its place. This allows for a more permanent breast to be created, and it gives doctors more latitude in matching one breast to the other. There are other solutions that can be used to regrow a lost breast, but they may be less effective and much less controllable than the use of a tissue expander.
