Skin grafting moves healthy skin from one part of the patient's body to an area that has lost its skin through burns, injury, skin tumour removal or a chronic ulcer. Its goal is to close the wound, protect it from infection and speed healing while improving function and appearance.
For a split-thickness graft, a thin layer of skin is shaved from the thigh or buttock with a special instrument and may be meshed to cover a larger area. A full-thickness graft is usually taken from behind the ear, above the collarbone or the groin. The graft is fixed with stitches or staples and a pressure dressing, under general or local anaesthesia.
The operation takes about thirty minutes to three hours. The graft starts to take within five to seven days, the donor site heals in about two weeks, and most patients gradually resume light activities. The final result appears after about twelve to eighteen months as the skin and scars mature.
The final cost is set after a medical consultant reviews your case and photos.
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It closes large wounds that would not heal quickly on their own, reducing the risk of infection and fluid loss and shortening healing time. It also limits contracture and improves the appearance and function of the area.
A patient with a large wound caused by a burn, injury, skin tumour removal or chronic ulcer, provided the wound bed is clean and has a good blood supply. General health must also allow surgery.
The wound is first prepared by cleaning and removing dead tissue, which may take several sessions. You should stop smoking at least two weeks beforehand, chronic conditions such as diabetes should be controlled, and some medicines are stopped under medical supervision.
A split- or full-thickness graft is taken from a healthy area, placed on the wound and fixed with stitches or staples and a pressure dressing. The donor site is covered with a special dressing, and the procedure is done under general or local anaesthesia.
The grafted area is kept still for about five to seven days while the graft takes, and it is checked at the first dressing change. The donor site heals in about two weeks; after that, moisturising, sun protection and sometimes pressure garments are advised.
The graft is usually attached after about a week, then its colour and texture improve gradually, with the final result visible after twelve to eighteen months. Once it has taken, the grafted skin remains a permanent part of the body.
Risks include partial or complete graft failure due to blood or fluid collecting beneath it or movement, infection, colour mismatch, shrinkage over time, reduced sensation and delayed healing of the donor site.
Scars remain around the edges of the graft and at the donor site, and a mesh pattern may be visible if the graft was meshed. These scars improve gradually with skin care and sun protection.
Staying about seven to ten days after the operation is usually advised to confirm the graft has taken and to complete the first dressing change. A longer stay may be needed for large areas or grafts near a joint.
Split-thickness grafts cover larger areas and take more easily, but they may shrink and differ more in colour. Full-thickness grafts look and feel closer to normal skin, so they are preferred for small areas on the face and hands.
