Skin Grafts

Venous ulcers can develop when the circulation in your legs and feet slows down and interferes with your body's ability to heal itself. If you have deep open wounds, VIP Wound, with offices in Memphis, Tennessee, and Holly Springs, Mississippi, can help. Their team uses the latest methods to treat venous ulcers and address the venous diseases that cause them. To learn more about skin grafts, call the nearest office today. 

What is a skin graft?

A skin graft is a medical procedure that involves transplanting tissue from a donor or donor site to a new location. The body’s natural healing process integrates the transplanted tissue with established tissues. 

Skin grafts may involve the most superficial layers of skin, called a split-thickness graft, or may involve deeper layers of skin and underlying tissue, also called a full-thickness graft. 

Why do I need a skin graft?

Skin grafting is used as an advanced wound care treatment when your complex, nonhealing, or slow-healing wound involves significant tissue loss. In some cases, wound care requires the removal of dead or infected tissues. This could leave you without enough skin and healthy tissue at the site for your wound to heal properly.

Conditions that may lead to a need for skin grafting include:

• Complicated surgical wounds
• Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) wounds
• Venous leg ulcers 
• Infected wounds
• Burns
• Skin infections
• Pressure ulcers
• Diabetic ulcers
• Cancer-related wounds

The team at VIP Wound often uses skin grafting along with other advanced treatments, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and compression therapy. They personalize your treatment plan to fit your wound care needs to give you the best possible outcome for healing your wound.

What does a skin graft entail?

If your treatment plan includes a skin graft, the team at VIP Wound takes time to explain the risks, benefits, and procedures for treating your wound. Each skin graft is different and specific to your wound. 

While under general anesthesia, the team prepares both the donor and recipient sites, removes tissue from a donor site, and transplants it to the new site. Common donor sites include:

• Thigh
• Abdomen
• Buttocks
• Back
• Forearm

The team at VIP Wound may also utilize skin graft material from other sources, which may include specially prepared animal tissue or synthetic grafts. Both your donor site and your transplant site are covered with a sterilized dressing and secured using stitches or staples.

Your team gives you specific instructions for caring for your new skin graft and how to identify any complications that may arise. It is vital that you follow these guidelines to ensure the best outcome for your skin graft. 

If you need a skin graft to treat your complex wound, call the nearest VIP Wound location today.