Surgery
Skin Graft
A skin graft moves healthy skin from one part of the body to cover a wound or area where skin has been lost.
Quick answer
Skin Graft: what it is, why it's done and what happens
A skin graft takes a layer of skin from a healthy area (the donor site) and places it over a wound to help it heal. Grafts can be thin (split-thickness) or include more layers (full-thickness).
- Why it is done: It is used to cover burns, large wounds, ulcers, or areas where skin has been removed (for example after skin cancer surgery), when the wound cannot heal or be closed on its own.
- What happens: Under local or general anaesthetic, skin is taken from the donor site and laid over the prepared wound, then held in place with dressings or stitches while new blood vessels grow into it.
What it is
A skin graft takes a layer of skin from a healthy area (the donor site) and places it over a wound to help it heal. Grafts can be thin (split-thickness) or include more layers (full-thickness).
Why it is done
It is used to cover burns, large wounds, ulcers, or areas where skin has been removed (for example after skin cancer surgery), when the wound cannot heal or be closed on its own.
What happens
Under local or general anaesthetic, skin is taken from the donor site and laid over the prepared wound, then held in place with dressings or stitches while new blood vessels grow into it.
Recovery
Both the graft and donor site need dressings and care while they heal over a few weeks. The graft is kept still at first so it can "take". The donor site can be sore, like a graze, as it heals.
Good to know
Risks and things to consider
Risks include the graft not taking, infection, bleeding and scarring, with the grafted skin sometimes differing in colour or texture. Larger or full-thickness grafts have particular healing needs.
Education and reference only. This explains the procedure in general terms and is not medical advice. Your own care, risks and recovery will be explained by the team looking after you.
Answers
Skin Graft: frequently asked questions
What does it mean if a graft "takes"?
It means the grafted skin has successfully connected to a new blood supply from the wound bed and is surviving. Keeping the graft still and protected in the early days helps it take.
Will the graft match my skin?
Grafted skin can differ slightly in colour and texture from the surrounding skin, and may improve over time. Full-thickness grafts often blend better than thin ones.
Related
Other surgery
Sources
Where this is drawn from
- NHS — Tests and treatments
- NICE — procedure and treatment guidance
- Relevant Royal College / professional body
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