How long for skin grafts to heal

These layers are taken from the donor site, which is the area where the healthy skin is located. Split-thickness skin grafts are usually harvested from the front or outer thigh, abdomen, buttocks, or back. Split-thickness grafts are used to cover large areas. These grafts tend to be fragile and typically have a shiny or smooth appearance.

They may also appear paler than the adjoining skin. A full-thickness graft involves removing all of the epidermis and dermis from the donor site. These are usually taken from the abdomen, groin, forearm, or area above the clavicle collarbone. Full-thickness grafts are generally used for small wounds on highly visible parts of the body, such as the face. Unlike split-thickness grafts, full-thickness grafts blend in well with the skin around them and tend to have a better cosmetic outcome.

Your doctor may instruct you to change your dosage or stop taking these medications before the surgery. Additionally, smoking or tobacco products will impair your ability to heal a skin graft, so your doctor will likely ask you to stop smoking ahead of your surgery. Your doctor will also tell you not to eat or drink anything after midnight on the day of the procedure. This is to prevent you from vomiting and choking during the surgery if the anesthesia nauseates you.

You should also plan on bringing a family member or friend who can drive you home after the surgery. You may need help performing certain tasks and getting around the house. A surgeon will begin the operation by removing skin from the donor site. Once skin is removed from the donor site, the surgeon will carefully place it over the transplant area and secure it with a surgical dressing, staples, or stitches.

This also allows fluid to drain from under the skin graft. Fluid collection under the graft may cause it to fail. The skin graft may not grow hair.

Sometimes skin grafts do not "take" or survive after being transferred. If the skin graft doesn't work, you may need another graft. This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover.

But each person recovers at a different rate, and certain areas of the body take longer to heal than others. Follow the steps below to feel better as quickly as possible.

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse call line if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

Call anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:. Call your doctor or nurse call line now or seek immediate medical care if:. Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse call line if:. Author: Healthwise Staff.

Roh MD - Dermatology. Care instructions adapted under license by your healthcare professional. If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Important Phone Numbers. Topic Contents Your Recovery How can you care for yourself at home? When should you call for help? Where can you learn more? Top of the page. Your Recovery Skin grafts are thin sheets of healthy skin removed from one part of the body donor site and put on another part. How can you care for yourself at home? Rest when you feel tired. Getting enough sleep will help you recover.

Try to walk each day, unless the grafted area is on your foot or leg. Start by walking a little more than you did the day before. Bit by bit, increase the amount you walk. Clinical Nursing Skills. Hoboken, NJ: Pearson; chap Wysong A, Higgins S. Basic principles in flap reconstruction. Flaps and Grafts in Dermatologic Surgery. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap 2. Editorial team. Skin flaps and grafts - self-care.

A skin flap may contain skin and fat, or skin, fat, and muscle. Often, a skin flap is still attached to its original site at one end and remains connected to a blood vessel. Sometimes a flap is moved to a new site and the blood vessel is surgically reconnected. This is called a free flap. Skin grafts are used to help more serious, larger and deeper wounds heal, including: Wounds that are too big to heal on their own Burns Skin loss from a serious skin infection Surgery for skin cancer Venous ulcers , pressure ulcers , or diabetic ulcers that do not heal After mastectomy or amputation The area from where skin is taken is called the donor site.

Donor sites for grafts and flaps are chosen based on: How closely the skin matches the area of the wound How visible the scar will be from the donor site How close the donor site is to the wound Often the donor site may be more painful after surgery than the wound due to newly exposed nerve endings.

Caring for Skin Flaps and Grafts. The dressing does several things, including: Protect your wound from germs and reduce the risk of infection Protect the area as it heals Soak up any fluids that leak from your wound To care for the graft or flap site: You may need to rest for several days after surgery as your wound heals. The type of dressing you have depends on the type of wound and where it is.

Keep the dressing and area around it clean and free from dirt or sweat. Do not let the dressing get wet. Do not touch the dressing. Leave it in place for as long as your doctor recommends about 4 to 7 days.

Take any medicines or pain relievers as directed. If possible, try to elevate the wound so it is above your heart. This helps reduce swelling. You may need to do this while sitting or lying down. You can use pillows to prop up the area. If your doctor says it is OK, you may use an ice pack on the bandage to help with swelling.

Ask how often you should apply the ice pack. Be sure to keep the bandage dry.