A combination tissue dissector and long term expander is disclosed for use inplastic surgery applications and other applications whereit is desirable to dissect a tissue pocket, and serially expand the dissectedpocket through long term tissue expansion. The combinationdevice performs the separate functions of dissection, and long term expansionin a single balloon package. In an exemplary embodiment,three sheets of substantially inelastic material (45, 47, 48) are bondedtogether at their outer margins to form two discrete inflatable chambers(49, 51). The lower inflatable chamber (49) defined by the middle and lowerballoon sheets (45, 47) is further welded together at variouspoints (50) over the sheet's surface area to create a semi-rigid base portion(44) which provides a flat well-defined footprint for the balloon.The semi-rigid base portion (44) prevents further enlargement of the tissuepocket at the margins when the device (32) is utilized as a tissueexpander. In a preferred method of use for the combination device, thecombination device is tunneled bluntly to a desired location withinthe body. The device (32) is then inflated to dissect tissue layers alongnatural tissue planes and create a tissue pocket. After dissection, thecombination device may be left within the body as a temporary implant tofurther expand the tissue pocket through long term expansionuntil the desired tissue pocket volume is achieved.
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