Monday, November 25, 2013

Tissue Expansion Seven

Headed in for saline fill number seven, Momma, brother and "C".  "C's" uncles met us for the fill.  Older brother "D" decided he didn't like when "C" screamed during the fill so he and uncle left the room when the doctor arrived.  The fill went as expected.  We did learn that the expanders are now at their rated capacity, however they are made to be pushed past that capacity if necessary.  We'll be coming back for one or more fills to get in as much stretch as possible before the final surgery.  The challenge for the surgeon, as it has been explained to us, is that once the balloons are removed in surgery the stretched skin immediately begins shrinking down.  So it is better to expand and have more tissue than the anticipated need so you surely have enough to cover the excision area.  The scalp only stretches so much and skin elasticity is different from patient to patient.  The joke, "I cut the darn 2x4 twice and it's still too short", just doesn't fit very well in this case.......



"C" is taking it very well.  We can tell that his head is cumbersome to him in size.  He easily bumps the forehead on things because it protrudes so much.  Thing is that it is more like bumping on a pillow to him then bumping his head because of the fluid cushion.    Surgery looks like it will be later January.

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