Skin Grafting Surgery Permanently Heals the Skin Defects

Online, October 16, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Skin is the largest organ of the human body and also known as the integument, since it covers the entire external surface of the human body. The integumentary system is the principle interface with the surrounding world and performs a multitude of specialized functions. The skin covers and protects the body from infection and injury, regulates the body temperature and maintains homeostasis, produces vitamin D. Skin gathers information about its environment. A skin graft is a skin transplant that covers the wound and attaches itself to the cells beneath. Skin grafting means transplanting of skin and, other underlying tissue to another location of the body.

Skin grafting is a means of reconstructing a defect in the healthy skin. Skin grafts are very fragile and great care must be taken when looking after them. In this surgical procedure, skin from another part of the body called donor site or an artificial skin substitute is transplanted to reconstruct the defect called recipient site.

Skin grafts are also used to cover chronic no healing ulcers, to replace tissue lost in full-thickness burns, and to restore hair to areas of alopecia. Grafting may be used to accelerate healing and reduce insensible fluid loss from burns and other wounds, reduce scar contraction.

A skin graft is required when the area that has been cut out is too big to sew the edges together directly. If you didn't apply a skin graft, the area would be an open wound and take much longer to heal. The area to be excised is marked with a colored pen. Local anesthetic will then be injected which will sting briefly. The dermatologist will then cut around and under the lesion with a scalpel and sharp scissors so that it is completely removed. The lesion will be examined by a surgeon. There may be some bleeding in the area from where the lesion has been removed. The doctor may coagulate the blood vessels with diathermy. This can make a hissing sound and a burning smell. The dermatologist will measure the area of the wound to know what size to make the skin graft. A piece of skin will be shaved or cut from another part of the body that is large enough to cover the wound. When possible, skin of similar thickness and color will be selected. The piece of skin graft will be applied to the wound and secured in place with stitches. A special non stick dressing applied over the skin graft. Usually this dressing is left in place for a few days.

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