Skin Grafting

Skin grafting is transplanting skin tissue from one part of the body to another without disconnecting the blood supply. The important thing to remember is that skin grafting is more of a medical procedure than a cosmetic procedure.

Skin grafts are used extensively to repair damaged skin. It is a reconstructive procedure used in the treatment of hyper-pigmentation, covering abrasions and refining the appearance of skin, and it is carried out under the recommendation and supervision of a trained medical professional.

The surgeon takes the skin from underexposed area like the thigh or the back and attaches the skin tissue to the area on the body that needs new skin.

The split thickness skin graft is where the skin tissue from the thigh or another healthy area is taken and then attached to another part of your body. The full thickness skin graft can in some cases, be seen as a cosmetic procedure. It is used to cover small wounds and sometimes it is used to cover up stretch marks and moles. It gives a better skin colour and texture when it heals. It gives a new lease of life for the burn victims and those suffering from serious skin ailments. It enhances your self confidence too.

But one should keep in mind that the skin colour can never be a perfect match and even scars are common. As you grow old the skin shrinks and so it contracts. The areas where skin grafting has been done will have no oil secretions or hair. Skin grafting is no magical procedures and sometimes the graft may no attach itself to the new skin and it may not survive.