Animal models of human tissue expansion

Abstract

Although tissue expansion is being used extensively in humans, many fundamental scientific questions remain to be addressed which can best be answered using an animal model. Presently, no single animal has been identified for research of this kind which is comparable both subjectively and objectively to humans. This study evaluates the skin of the rat, guinea pig, pig, and dog and identifies the dog as the best model based on biomechanical and practical considerations.