Weekly Skin Stretching Before Critical Surgery
In addition to the extensive mental preparation required before their surgery, the medical preparation for the Herrin twins was equally rigorous. Since the girls shared a body and skin, doctors needed to ensure there was enough skin to successfully close each twin’s surgical site post-separation. “Every week, we would get tissue expanders, which were like little balloons placed under the skin to stretch it, ensuring we had enough skin to get closed,” they explained.
This process was painful, and despite their young age, Kendra and Maliyah recall the sensation vividly. Despite all the preparations, the outcome of their surgery was still uncertain.
