What is Skin Repair?

Skin repair is when an area of the skin is compromised in some sort of way either due to an injury or medical condition that has created the need for a graft or flap in order to repair the area. Applying a graft or flap to the skin is essentially a skin transplantation from another area of the body. Skin grafts can be used to repair extensive trauma to the skin such as burns, skin loss, and surgery that requires replacing the skin.

How is Skin Repair Performed?

Skin Grafts
There are two types of skin grafts, the more common type is where a thin layer is removed from a healthy part of the body where excess skin can be taken. A full thickness skin graft is riskier, in terms of the body accepting the skin and healing properly. For full thickness skin grafts, the donor section tends to heal much more quickly than the injury and is less painful than a partial thickness skin graft.

Skin Flaps
Flap surgery is done with a piece of tissue that is still attached to the body by a major artery and vein or at its base. This piece of tissue with its attached blood supply is used in reconstructive surgery by being set into a recipient site. This Blood supply helps with the healing process.

Recovery

You will have a bandage over the skin graft. The area may be tender for 1 to 2 weeks. Keep the area of the skin graft clean and dry while it heals. If possible, prop up the area of your body that has the skin graft. Keeping it raised will reduce swelling and fluid buildup, which can cause problems with the graft.

If you are need of a skin graft or flap, contact our Maryland office today to schedule an appointment! We proudly serve patients all over the state of Maryland.