Objective: To study the clinical application of rapid skin tissue expansion in repairing the skin defects of the face. Methods:126 cases with 8～25cm 2 skin tissue defects on the face were chosen to receive the rapid skin tissue expansion in whick 1～3 pieces of expanders in volume from 50～100ml were implanted according to the size of the defects. Results:The progress of saline injecting was performed in 7 days in 86 cases with skin tissue defects in size below 15cm 2 and in 14 days in 40 case with skin tissue defects between 16～25cm 2 in size.As a result

39% extra area of expanded skin in average was obtained.The texture

thickness

color and feeling of expanded flaps in 120 cases were similar to the adjacent skin.Congestion of expanded flaps in 6 cases occurred due to the slight subcutaneous haematoma

which disappeared in 2 months postoperation. Conclusion: Rapid skin tissue expansion can avoid the deficiencies of the routine expansion

such as long expansion period and more complications.Rapid expansion is a convenient and safe

reliable and effective technique for repairing the skin defects of the face.The correct choice of expander

the reasonable management of saline injection and the precise design of the expanded flaps are the key to the success of reconstructive operation.