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'''Tissue expansion''' is a technique used by plastic, maxillofacial, and reconstructive surgeons to cause the body to grow additional skin, bone, or other tissues. <ref name="whyitworks2021">{{REFweb |url=https://www.phimostretch.com/blogs/news/phimosis-stretching-why-it-works |title=Phimosis -Why stretching totally works (Science explained) -Phimostretch |last= |first= |date=2021 |accessdate=2021-07-28}}</ref> Other biological phenomena such as tissue inflammation can also be considered expansion.

Skin expansion is a common surgical procedure to grow extra skin through controlled mechanical overstretch. <ref name="whyitworks2021" /> It creates skin that matches the color, texture, and thickness of the surrounding tissue, while minimizing scars and eliminating risk of rejection.

When skin is stretched beyond its physiological limit, mechanotransduction pathways are activated. This leads to cell growth as well as to the [[Mitosis| formation of new cells]].<ref name="whyitworks2021" />

[[Stretching]] the skin beyond normal expansion invokes several mechanotransduction pathways which increase [[mitosis| mitotic]] activity and promote collagen synthesis. <ref name="whyitworks2021" /> As a result, the skin surface area increases.<ref>{{REFjournal