Objective: Tissue expansion is the preferred technique for the treatment of giant congenital melanocytic nevus (GCMN) located on the face, abdomen, and legs. We believe that the use of multiple tissue expanders in the same surgery is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of GCMN.
Materials and methods: A total of 14 patients were treated between 2013 and 2016 for GCMN removal with placement in the same surgery of 3 or more tissue expanders. We analyzed esthetic results and complications.
Results: The locations of the GCMN on the 14 patients were on the abdomen, thigh, and shoulder. The number of tissue expanders placed was 3 in 5 patients, 4 in 6 patients, 5 in 1 patient, and 6 in 2 patients. The average stay was 4.29 days (1-9 days), and the average time until the removal of the expanders was 84.71 days (47-127 days). Only 2 patients had postoperative complications, with one having dehiscence of the surgical wound and the other an infection of the expander.
Conclusions: The use of multiple tissue expanders for GCMN is a safe technique that reduces the number of surgical interventions, achieving a total excision of the nevus in less time and at a younger age. The esthetic results are similar, and we have not observed a higher rate of complications.