Process Summary: Skin Grafting, Adult
Skin Grafting, Adult
Skin grafting is a surgical procedure to cover an area of damaged or missing skin with a piece of healthy skin from another area of the body (donor site) or from a donor. You may have a graft using skin from:
• Another part of your body (autograft).
• The body of another person (allograft).
• An animal's body (xenograft).
You may need a skin graft if you have lost a large area of skin from a burn, wound, or pressure sore. You may also need skin grafting if you had a large piece of skin removed as a result of surgery. Skin grafting can help your skin to heal, prevent large scars, and prevent infection.
The three main types of skin grafts are:
• Split-thickness skin graft. This option works for wounds that …show more content…
• Your surgeon will stop the flow of blood to the wound.
• For a split-thickness graft:
○ Using a surgical tool (dermatome), your surgeon will cut the epidermis and a small layer of dermis from the donor site. This piece will be slightly larger than the wound.
○ The donated tissue will be placed over the wound. It will be held in place with a pressure wrap, stitches (sutures), or both.
○ The site of the donated tissue will be covered with clean bandages (dressings) to protect against infection.
• For a full-thickness graft or a composite graft:
○ Using a scalpel, the surgeon will cut out a section of skin, muscle, fat, and blood supply. This graft will be trimmed and then placed over the wound.
○ The donated tissue will be held in place with absorbable stitches (sutures). A pressure wrap may also be used.
○ A split-thickness graft might be done to cover the donor site.
The procedure may vary among health care providers and hospitals.
AFTER THE PROCEDURE
• Your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood oxygen level will be monitored often until the medicines you were given have worn
Skin grafting is a surgical procedure to cover an area of damaged or missing skin with a piece of healthy skin from another area of the body (donor site) or from a donor. You may have a graft using skin from:
• Another part of your body (autograft).
• The body of another person (allograft).
• An animal's body (xenograft).
You may need a skin graft if you have lost a large area of skin from a burn, wound, or pressure sore. You may also need skin grafting if you had a large piece of skin removed as a result of surgery. Skin grafting can help your skin to heal, prevent large scars, and prevent infection.
The three main types of skin grafts are:
• Split-thickness skin graft. This option works for wounds that …show more content…
• Your surgeon will stop the flow of blood to the wound.
• For a split-thickness graft:
○ Using a surgical tool (dermatome), your surgeon will cut the epidermis and a small layer of dermis from the donor site. This piece will be slightly larger than the wound.
○ The donated tissue will be placed over the wound. It will be held in place with a pressure wrap, stitches (sutures), or both.
○ The site of the donated tissue will be covered with clean bandages (dressings) to protect against infection.
• For a full-thickness graft or a composite graft:
○ Using a scalpel, the surgeon will cut out a section of skin, muscle, fat, and blood supply. This graft will be trimmed and then placed over the wound.
○ The donated tissue will be held in place with absorbable stitches (sutures). A pressure wrap may also be used.
○ A split-thickness graft might be done to cover the donor site.
The procedure may vary among health care providers and hospitals.
AFTER THE PROCEDURE
• Your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood oxygen level will be monitored often until the medicines you were given have worn