Method and devices for tissue expansion

Abstract

A device for maintaining or achieving soft tissue expansion applicable to any body region already temporarily expanded including: an adhesive element deformable and capable of adapting to the shape of this body region, and which can then itself become mechanically rigid enough to resist tendency of the expanded tissue to recoil or to which a second material can be applied to form a stent adapted to the shape of the body area to provide the necessary structural rigidity to prevent recoil of the expansion and thereby induce its retention of its expanded shape after the stent is removed.

In the claims: 
     
         1 . A method for augmenting a patient's breast comprising distending the breast and applying a passive splint by adhering across substantially the entirety of a surface of the breast to maintain it in its distended state. 
     
     
         2 - 43 . (canceled).