Surgery Tomorrow - Skin Graft 101

I am finally having my skin graft tomorrow.  The wound has a thin layer of skin growing over its entire surface.  So the Plastic Surgeon can remove a matching pattern of 'good skin' from my thigh to sew into the wound area.  (then I'll have two sore spots!) I'm told after about a week post-op I'll be on the road to recovery.  More later, after it happens.  

I'm expecting some pain.  (or "mild discomfort") Boy, i hope i'm wrong!

I'll include a Post-op photo as soon as i can.  thanks for all your well wishes.  

- Peg Leg Pirate Skip

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currently, the VAC pump and my 'umbilical murse'

 wound on Fri 8.11  five weeks after accident.  (the before graft shot)

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Skin grafts

A skin graft is a surgical procedure where healthy skin is removed from an unaffected area of the body and used to cover lost or damaged skin.

Skin grafts may be used for bone fractures that break the skin (open fractures), large wounds, surgical removal of an area of the skin. 

There are two main types of skin graft:

• a full thickness skin graft – the top layer of skin (epidermis) and all the layers of skin underneath (dermis) are removed and the area is closed with stitches; only a small area of skin will be removed, usually from the neck, behind the ear or the inner side of the upper arm
• a partial or split thickness skin graft – the epidermis and a smaller part of the dermis are removed, and the area is left to heal without being closed by stitches; the skin is usually taken from the thigh, buttock or upper arm

Before the procedure, you'll be given a general anaesthetic or a local anaesthetic. This will depend on the size and location of the affected area.

The skin graft will usually be held in place using stitches, staples, clips or special glue. The area will be covered with a sterile dressing until it has connected with the surrounding blood supply, which usually takes around five to seven days.

A dressing will also be placed over the area where the skin has been taken from (the donor site) to help protect it from infection. The donor area of partial thickness skin grafts will usually take about two weeks to heal. For full thickness skin grafts, the donor area only takes about 5 to 10 days to heal, because it's normally quite small and closed with stitches.

At first, the grafted area will appear reddish-purple, but it should fade over time. It can take a year or two for the appearance of the skin to settle down completely. The final colour may be slightly different to the surrounding skin, and the area may be slightly indented.