Skin Grafting

Your Procedure

You have had “skin grafting”, where a very thin layer of skin has been transferred from one area of your body (the donor) to another to cover a wound. This skin is very delicate but will ultimately become stronger and cover the wound completely.

What to Expect

It is normal for the graft site and the donor site to hurt and for there to be a small amount of bleeding at both sites post-operatively. You’ll have dressings on that typically stay in place until follow-up.
If you had a skin lesion removed, the pathology results from your treatment should be available after 4 weeks. Dr. Evans will call you with the results if not discussed in the office.

Surgical Site Care

Showering/bathing: All skin graft dressings need to be kept dry until follow up. You may sponge-bathe around these areas carefully, but showers and baths must be avoided.

Graft Bolster Dressing: The graft site will have a pin-cushion dressing or a wrap over it to keep pressure on the graft. This should be left on and kept clean and dry until your follow-up visit. In many cases, the dressing is sutured on to you. This is temporary and will be removed at your follow up visit. You do not need to change this dressing - but please keep it dry.

VAC Dressing: Sometimes the graft site has a vacuum dressing on attached to a machine. Leave the dressing in place until your follow-up. Call (250) 370-8000 and ask to speak to the Burn and Wound nurse if you have problems with the VAC such as loss of a seal, or the machine is constantly sounding an alarm

Donor dressing: The site where the graft is taken from will also have a dressing. The dressing on the donor site should be kept clean and dry. It is normal for it to bleed a little. If the bandage falls off, cover the area with antibiotic ointment and a non-stick dressing.

Activity and Care at Home

If possible, keep the area that has been grafted elevated above your heart for as much of the time as possible to help with swelling and graft take. This is especially important with grafts on the lower leg and forearm/hand - avoid weight-bearing unless necessary and keep your arm/leg up as much as possible.
You may maintain a gentle level of activity until instructed by your doctor. In most cases, this will be two weeks or until the surgical site has healed.

Medications and Pain Management

Some discomfort and pain following surgery is to be expected. You should take ibuprofen (Advil) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) every 6 hours as directed on the container labels. If more pain is expected, you will be given a prescription that you can take in addition to this. Do not exceed the recommended doses. Keep surgical areas elevated and avoid any strenuous activities.

What to watch for / when to call / who to call

Call your doctor’s office, see your GP, or visit the emergency room if you feel acutely unwell, have excessive bleeding, you notice redness extending from the surgical site, foul odour or if you have a significant fever or significant and increasing pain. If you decide to go to the emergency, please call your surgeon first.

Follow-up

You should contact your surgeon’s office to arrange follow-up if not discussed already. This might be at your surgeon’s office, or at Clinic 3 in Royal Jubilee Hospital. Typically, the graft dressing or VAC dressing is removed after about 7 days by a nurse or doctor.