Retractor/stabilizer for excessive and/or redundant tissue and method of use

摘要

Disclosed is a method for retracting and stabilizing excessive and/or redundant tissue or for compressing redundant tissue that improves tissue management over existing methods and reduces medical staff risk of injury. The method excludes methods of treatment of human beings by surgery or therapy, the method comprising adhering a one-piece retractor-stabilizer to the skin of a patient where the retractor-stabilizer comprises a tension member having a lower surface, a backing layer, and an adhesive covering substantially the entire lower surface of the tension member. The backing layer is removed and a first portion of the tension member is adhered directly to a first area of skin, this comprising redundant and/or excessive tissue of the patient; pulling the tension member to place it in tension, and then adhering a second portion of the tension member directly to a second spaced apart area of skin, so that the pulling of the tension member and then the adhering of the second portion of the tension member directly to the patient results in the area of the tension member between the first portion and the second portion being adhered directly to the patient between the excessive and/or redundant tissue and the anchor point while in a tensioned state. Substantially the entire lower surface of the tension member is adhered directly to the patient in a tensioned state, and the excessive or redundant tissue loads against the first and second portion of the tension member thereby placing substantially the entire tension member in tension.