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…
are not deep. It is a graft that contains the top skin layer (epidermis) and a portion of the skin that contains blood vessels, nerves, hair follicles, and oil and sweat glands (dermis).
• Full-thickness skin graft. This option is best for deep wounds or severe burns. It is a graft that requires all layers of skin as well as some supporting tissues underneath. When this type is done, a split-thickness graft may be used to cover the donor site.
• Composite skin graft. This type is used for grafts that need more reconstruction. The graft might include cartilage and fat as well as skin.
The type of graft you receive will depend on where your wound is and what skin is available to use for the graft.
LET YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER KNOW ABOUT:
• Any allergies you have.
• All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
• Previous problems you or members of your family have had with the use of anesthetics.
• Any blood disorders you have.
• Previous surgeries you have had.
• Any medical conditions you have.
• Whether you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
• Any family history of raised and bumpy (keloid) scars.
RISKS AND COMPLICATIONS
Generally, this is a safe procedure. However, problems may occur, including:
• Infection.
• Loss of grafted skin.
• Bleeding.
• Blood under the skin (hematoma).
• Scarring.
• Need for additional grafts.
• Allergic reactions to medicines.
• Damage to other structures or organs.
BEFORE THE PROCEDURE
• Ask your health care provider about:
○ Changing or stopping your regular medicines. This is especially important if you are taking diabetes medicines or blood thinners.
○ Taking medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can thin your blood. Do not take these medicines before your procedure if your health care provider instructs you not to.
• Follow your health care provider’s instructions about eating or drinking restrictions.
• Plan to have someone take you home after the procedure.
• Take a shower on the morning of the procedure. You may have to use a certain cleanser as specified by your health care provider.
• If you will be going home right after the procedure, plan to have someone with you for 24 hours.
• Ask your health care provider how your surgical site will be marked or identified.
• You may be given antibiotic medicine to help prevent infection.
PROCEDURE
• To reduce your risk of infection:
○ Your health care team will wash or sanitize their hands.
○ Your skin will be washed with soap.
• An IV tube will be inserted into one of your veins.
• You will be given one or more of the following:
○ A medicine to help you relax (sedative).
○ A medicine to make you fall asleep (general anesthetic).
• Your wound will be cleaned to make sure it is free of dirt and to lower the risk of infection.
• 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
off.
• You may be given antibiotic medicines.
• You may be given medicine for pain.
• Do not drive for 24 hours if you received a sedative.
ExitCare® Patient Information ©2012 ExitCare, LLC.
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…
are not deep. It is a graft that contains the top skin layer (epidermis) and a portion of the skin that contains blood vessels, nerves, hair follicles, and oil and sweat glands (dermis).
• Full-thickness skin graft. This option is best for deep wounds or severe burns. It is a graft that requires all layers of skin as well as some supporting tissues underneath. When this type is done, a split-thickness graft may be used to cover the donor site.
• Composite skin graft. This type is used for grafts that need more reconstruction. The graft might include cartilage and fat as well as skin.
The type of graft you receive will depend on where your wound is and what skin is available to use for the graft.
LET YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER KNOW ABOUT:
• Any allergies you have.
• All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
• Previous problems you or members of your family have had with the use of anesthetics.
• Any blood disorders you have.
• Previous surgeries you have had.
• Any medical conditions you have.
• Whether you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
• Any family history of raised and bumpy (keloid) scars.
RISKS AND COMPLICATIONS
Generally, this is a safe procedure. However, problems may occur, including:
• Infection.
• Loss of grafted skin.
• Bleeding.
• Blood under the skin (hematoma).
• Scarring.
• Need for additional grafts.
• Allergic reactions to medicines.
• Damage to other structures or organs.
BEFORE THE PROCEDURE
• Ask your health care provider about:
○ Changing or stopping your regular medicines. This is especially important if you are taking diabetes medicines or blood thinners.
○ Taking medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can thin your blood. Do not take these medicines before your procedure if your health care provider instructs you not to.
• Follow your health care provider’s instructions about eating or drinking restrictions.
• Plan to have someone take you home after the procedure.
• Take a shower on the morning of the procedure. You may have to use a certain cleanser as specified by your health care provider.
• If you will be going home right after the procedure, plan to have someone with you for 24 hours.
• Ask your health care provider how your surgical site will be marked or identified.
• You may be given antibiotic medicine to help prevent infection.
PROCEDURE
• To reduce your risk of infection:
○ Your health care team will wash or sanitize their hands.
○ Your skin will be washed with soap.
• An IV tube will be inserted into one of your veins.
• You will be given one or more of the following:
○ A medicine to help you relax (sedative).
○ A medicine to make you fall asleep (general anesthetic).
• Your wound will be cleaned to make sure it is free of dirt and to lower the risk of infection.
• 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
off.
• You may be given antibiotic medicines.
• You may be given medicine for pain.
• Do not drive for 24 hours if you received a sedative.
ExitCare® Patient Information ©2012 ExitCare, LLC.