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Skin Grafting Surgery

Scar Treatments/Skin Grafting

Skin grafting surgery involves moving (or transplanting) skin from one part of the body to another. This procedure can treat wounds, burns, scars, and skin damage caused by injury, infection, or illness. Skin grafts may also be used after scar releases or in conjunction with skin substitutes. It is a valuable technique for skin recovery and restoration, though proper aftercare procedures are required to promote optimal healing and results.

side view body with healthy skin

What is skin grafting surgery?

Skin grafting is a surgical procedure used to cover up damaged or diseased parts of the skin or open wounds. During the procedure, a layer of skin shaving is taken from a “donor site” on the patient’s body. This site is usually situated on the outer thighs, back , or buttocks, as these areas have large surface areas of skin, are easy to conceal under clothing, and tend to heal relatively rapidly and well.

The skin from the donor site is then placed onto a “graft site”- the part of the body needing treatment. Graft sites often have been subject to wounds, illnesses, or injuries. The skin there may have been burnt, scarred, or damaged in some other way. The healthy donor skin is placed onto the graft site, covering the injured area, protected with dressings and then left to heal.

When is a skin graft performed?

Skin grafting surgery is often necessary when large areas of skin are wounded or burned. It is commonly used to restore damaged skin and improve its function and appearance. Additionally, patients may seek skin grafts to cover facial scars resulting from trauma, surgery, or illness. Generally, a graft can be an effective treatment option whenever a section of skin is severely damaged.

Types of skin grafts

Two forms of skin grafting surgery for scars and wounds include split-thickness and full-thickness.

Split-thickness grafts (STSG) require only a thin piece of the skin. The skin graft comprises only the outer layer (epidermis) of the skin and a small section of the lower (dermis) layer.

Full-thickness grafts (FTSG) require a thicker piece of skin. The graft is made up of both the epidermis and dermis layers in their entirety. Because of this, the healing time for full-thickness skin grafting for scars is longer than for split-thickness procedures. This method is best for deeper wounds, scars, and cases where a thinner layer of skin simply would not provide adequate coverage or restoration.

The type of skin graft used depends on the size of the wound being treated, availability of donor skin and the desired characteristics of the replacement skin.

It is worth noting that a third variant of skin grafting also exists, though it is not used as commonly as the others. This variant is called composite grafting, in which skin, additional tissue, and cartilage are transplanted. It is a specialist procedure for treating specific body areas where cartilage and other tissues are present, like the nose and ears.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of skin grafting for scars?

Skin grafting surgery effectively replaces damaged pieces of skin and subcutaneous tissue with healthy skin. The recovery time can be relatively quick – if aftercare instructions are followed correctly and no complications arise, patients can return to their usual routines within a few weeks.

There are some minor disadvantages, such as the grafted skin may have a slightly different tone and texture and colour to the surrounding areas. However, with thorough preparation and aftercare, the impact and extent of these issues is negligible. Some patients may also see a disadvantage in the fact that this is an invasive surgical procedure, but it has been proven to be a safe and effective one.

What happens during skin graft surgery?

The sections below explain the surgery from start to finish, examining the skin graft healing stages and what to expect on the day of the procedure.

Treatment Overview

  • Surgical technique to resurface and improve the appearance of scarring – burns, self-harm, complex wounds
  • Two different types of skin graft depending on the severity of the scarring
  • Procedure involves removing healthy skin from another area of the body and securing this over the site of scarring
  • Typical recovery period of 2 weeks
  • You will have an initial consultation with an expert specialist in this area

Before the procedure

Before skin grafting surgery, your surgeon will explain the procedure, designate a donor site, and advise you on how best to prepare. They may ask that you cease taking certain medicines or supplements in the days leading up to surgery, as well as abstaining from smoking and alcohol – such practices may impair your body’s natural healing processes.

During the surgery

During the surgery, patients are first placed under anaesthesia to completely numb any pain sensations. The surgeon then makes incisions in the donor site to extract the piece of healthy skin. The skin is then placed on top of the graft site and secured with sutures or staples. Lastly, a dressing is applied to guard against infection and allow the body to heal.

Aftercare

Post-procedure, patients should follow all aftercare recommendations from their surgeon. This may include:

  • Doing your utmost to keep the graft site clean and dry
  • Wearing a dressing over the site for a period of up to two weeks
  • Attending physical therapy sessions

The graft site should heal in about two weeks. However, the skin will be fragile and will have to move through the stages of scar maturation until the final result is evident. It takes 12-18 months for the average scar to mature but in the time many strategies can be employed to reduce the scar symptoms and visibility.

front view of a woman with marker traces on her skin before skin grafting

Do skin grafts completely get rid of scars?

Not entirely. When it comes to how to get rid of scars, skin grafting is a successful and effective method to improve the appearance of some scars. Used appropriately It can have highly beneficial aesthetic effects on sections of damaged skin. However, it is medically impossible to remove any scar completely.

A graft should mostly cover your damaged skin , but the procedure may also leave some scars at both the donor and recipient site. Most patients are content with this, as the new scars are far smaller and less prominent than originally. However, knowing this and choosing your scar treatment according to your needs and desires is important.

"Saw Mr Ioannis Goutos for a scar on my hand. Had a full hour with the doctor, which I believe is unusually long for a Harley Street appointment, in a good way. I felt all my questions were answered. Questions I didn’t even know I had were also answered. I will use this same service for scars from any future surgeries. Thank you again!"

"Excellent experience through and through. Friendly staff and extended team. Mr Leon-Villapalos is an exceptional communicator and made me feel at ease throughout both of my procedures with him."

"Rae did an incredible job with medical tattooing a scar that had troubled me for some time. After being told by many that nothing could be done, Rae was confident she could help and it was a pleasant experience overall. Highly recommend."

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