Skin grafts are done to:

• Promote healing of:
  Large burns
  Large wounds
• Restore skin removed during surgery. Examples include:
  Treatment for cancer where tissue is removed from upper limb or lower limb.
  Tumor removal
  After serious skin infection.

Successfully transplanted skin will attach and grow in the new area. The appearance of the skin will vary. The type of skin graft used and the area it was needed will play a role in the cosmetic outcome.

Problems from the procedure are rare, but all procedures have some risk. Your doctor will review potential problems, like:

• Graft failure
• Infection at either the donor or recipient site
• Poor healing
• Increased or decreased sensation at the recipient site
• Hair may not grow on recipient site
• Differences in skin coloration

Factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

• Age—newborns, infants, or adults aged 60 years and older
• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Poor overall health
• Use of certain medications

Depending on the surgery, you may receive:

• Local anesthesia—the immediate area is numbed
• Regional anesthesia—a large area of your body will be numbed, but you will be awake
• General anaesthesia—you will be asleep

The wound will be measured. A pattern of the wound will be traced and outlined over the donor site. The donor tissue will be removed with a scalpel or special harvesting machine.

There are 2 main types of skin graft techniques. Your doctor will talk about the benefits and risks of options for you.

• Split-thickness graft—The doctor will remove the top and middle layer of skin. This type of graft allows the area to heal more quickly. There may be color differences in this type of graft. Multiple holes are placed in the graft. This can give it a mesh appearance. The mesh allows fluid to leak out from the tissue under the graft. The meshed skin will be able to spread out over a much larger area of injury.
• Full-thickness graft—The doctor will remove and transfer the entire thickness of the skin. Stitches are often needed at the donor site. The final outcome is usually better. This method is often used for areas where cosmetic outcome is important, such as the face. The use of full-thickness skin grafts is limited by size and donation area. It would be hard to close a large donation area with stitches.

The graft will be placed on the damaged site. It will be attached with stitches or staples.A pressure bandage will be applied over the area. New blood vessels begin to grow into the wound within the first 48 hours. New cells will grow from the graft. Over time the new growth will cover the damaged area with new skin.

When you get home, you will need to:

• Keep the areas clean and dry.
• Avoid all trauma to the sites.
• Avoid periods of prolonged sunlight in area of new skin.