Skin transplantation, also known as skin grafting or flap surgery, are procedures that involve removing a patch of skin from a healthy area of the body, and placing it on another area to replace skin damage. Skin grafts are most commonly harvested from the inner thighs, upper arms, buttocks, below the collar bone, and behind the ear.
There are three main types of skin grafts that may be used for these procedures: allograft, xenograft, and synthetic tissues. An allograft is a skin graft that it taken from a human source, usually the patient himself, or a cadaver. A xenograft is the type of flap that is harvested from an animal source. Finally, synthetic tissues are medically designed and produces in laboratories, mainly for the use of skin transplant patients.
Why Skin Transplantation Procedures are Performed
Flap surgery is commonly performed to promote healing in highly-traumatized areas of the skin. They facilitate faster healing of large wounds and burns, and diabetic and pressure ulcers.
A skin transplant may also be used to reconstruct an area of skin that is damaged or removed through surgery, like in breast cancer cases.
Ideally, the transplanted skin will adhere to the area’s natural skin and grow as a part of that area. Aesthetic results vary from one patient to another, depending on the recipient site and on the type of skin graft used in the procedure.
Skin Transplantation Procedure
Skin transplantation operations are normally done under general anesthesia to prevent any discomfort and pain on the part on the patient.
To begin the procedure, the doctor takes healthy skin from the donor site, which is the part of the body where the skin graft is harvested from. In most procedures, the grafts taken include two layers of the epidermis and another layer of the dermis. The donor site may be any part of the body, but grafts are usually harvested from areas that are hidden by clothing, like the buttocks or the inner thighs.
Your doctor will gently lay the skin graft on the area where it will be transferred. To hold the new skin in place, pressure from padded dressings are usually used. Other doctors, however, employ the use of small stitches or staples to keep the area stable.
The area will be covered with dressing for three to five days, or until the transplant starts to heal.
Possible Threats and Complications
Do not expect the implanted skin to look as natural as the skin of the recipient site. While it may provide the area with necessary protection, its appearance may not be as smooth as that of the original skin. For one, hair may not grow on the flap after it has been transferred to the site. It is also common for graft tissue to contract, thus, restricting movement to the area.
Other possible complications include bleeding, infection, and graft failure. Your doctor will run you through tests that will assess your risks for these complications prior to the procedure.
People who smoke, those who have a history of diabetes, or individuals with poor overall health also stand higher risks with skin transplantation procedures.