The Effects of Negative Pressure by External Tissue Expansion Device on Epithelial Cell Proliferation, Neo-Vascularization, and Hair Growth in a Porcine Model

The study investigated the effects of negative pressure treatment using an External Tissue Expansion Device (ETED) on fat grafting recipient sites in a porcine model. The ETED applied -70 mmHg pressure for 1 or 3 hours every other day, over 10 or 20 treatments. Results showed increased epidermis thickness due to cell proliferation, a more than two-fold increase in vessel density, and an unexpected increase in hair follicles. This suggested that the ETED promoted vascularization and hair growth. The porcine model was deemed more representative for studying the effects of negative pressure on skin tissue compared to smaller animal models.