A tissue expander adapted for increasing overlying tissue surface area and size of an associated perforator vessel includes an inflatable bladder adapted to be temporarily implanted subcutaneously in a patient at a donor site. The bladder forms a recess for receiving therein a perforator vessel. Bladder volume is increased incrementally over time to increase overlying tissue surface area and size of the associated perforator vessel. The expanded tissue and/or the perforator vessel can be harvested for use as an island flap, a free flap, or a vascular graft.
