What Patients Should Know About Skin Graft Surgery

If you experience certain injuries to your skin, a doctor at your Newport Beach surgical center might recommend a skin graft as part of the treatment process. It is important that you understand the general principles of skin graft surgery in Orange County so that you know which questions to ask your doctor to ensure you are fully informed. This can also help to ease your mind before the day of your procedure.

Skin Graft Basics

Before heading to the Newport Beach surgical center, you want to understand the basics concerning a skin graft. To do a skin graft, skin is taken from a donor or from a different site on your body and is used to cover an area that is damaged or has a large wound. Your doctor might recommend this procedure for several reasons, such as skin infections, open and large wounds, skin cancer, deep burns or skin ulcers or bed sores that are not healing properly.

There are two main graft options doctors might consider. The split-thickness type uses both the top skin layer and the second layer of skin. These are most often used to cover large areas. The full-thickness type uses all of the top two layers of skin and is usually used for smaller areas.

Preparing for Your Surgery

Before skin graft surgery in Orange County, there are a few preparation tasks your doctor might recommend. It is important that these are done exactly. Your doctor might recommend temporary medication alterations for a set period of time before your surgery. For example, you might have blood thinning medications adjusted to reduce the risk of bleeding. You might also be asked to refrain from food and beverages for a set amount of time before your procedure to reduce the risk of choking and vomiting once you are put under anesthesia. You should also expect to have someone stay with you for at least a few days to help as you start your recovery.

Skin Graft Surgery Basics

The first step for the procedure is obtaining the skin that will be grafted, either from your body or a donor. The graft is then placed on the damaged or wounded skin and your surgeon will use staples, stitches or a surgical dressing to secure the graft. In some cases, mesh is used for split-thickness grafts. To help stretch the skin, your doctor might punch holes into the graft. This helps the doctor to need less donor tissue. It also allows for effective fluid drainage from below the graft. No matter the closure option used, the surgeon will generally cover the graft with a special bandage that will not adhere to the graft, but covers it adequately to keep it clean. General anesthesia is often used for this procedure.

Now you have some basic information concerning skin grafts. Having a general idea about what to expect before you get to the Newport beach surgical center ensures you are making an informed decision. Make sure to talk to an experienced doctor before your skin graft surgery in Orange County, such as a doctor at http://scarscenter.com/. This makes sure that you are getting the best care possible.

John Trinh has been writing for 10+ years. He first delved into the world of writing when he wrote his first article for his university's paper.