Skilled Plastic Surgeon for Skin Reconstruction in Los Angeles
A skin graft is a surgical procedure that involves taking a piece of healthy skin from one area of the body and transplanting it to another area. Skin grafts are often used to treat injuries or burns, but they can also be used for skin cancer reconstructive surgery.
The Skin Graft Procedure
A skin graft is done when the skin or tissue that covers part of your body is either damaged, burned, or cut. The procedure for a skin graft varies depending on what area of your body needs treatment.
Removing the damaged skin and replacing it with healthy skin to cover the wound may be done in one surgery or in multiple surgeries. The different types of skin grafts commonly performed are:
- Local flap
- Free flap
- Delayed primary closure
- Split-thickness graft
Facial Skin Cancer Reconstruction
Facial skin cancer reconstruction is a type of skin graft surgery used to repair damage caused by skin cancer. This type of surgery is often performed to treat cancers on the nose, lips, and ears. A facial plastic surgeon can use a skin graft to repair the damage that has been done by removing cancerous cells. The doctor will take healthy tissue from another part of your body, cut away cells in the area with cancer, and then use the healthy skin around it to cover up the area where there was once cancer.
The surgeon makes an incision in the area around where he or she will be removing cancer. The doctor then cuts away cells that are cancerous and takes healthy skin from another part of your body to cover the wound. This could be done with a free flap, local flap, or delayed primary closure.
Skin grafts used for facial plastic surgery often come from other parts of the body, such as the:
- Thighs
- Abdomen
- Chest
- Shoulders
The doctor will choose the best place to get healthy skin depending on where the cancer is located and how much needs to be removed. There are other reasons why you might want to consider turning to a plastic surgeon for a skin graft. We answer two of the most commonly asked questions below:
Can you Get a Skin Graft for Stretch Marks?
Yes, you can get a skin graft for stretch marks. Skin grafts are often used to treat burn scars and other damaged areas on the body. However, not all doctors agree that this is the best technique for stretch mark removal.
The most common type used for stretch mark removal is a split-thickness graft. This type of graft uses a thin layer of skin from another part of your body. The doctor will make an incision and remove the damaged skin. They will then use a thin layer from the donor area to cover the wound. The doctor may need to cut away some of your actual skin in order to replace it with healthy skin from another part of your body.
Before you decide to have a skin graft for stretch marks, consult with us about your goals and what you would like the final result to look like. You should not have this surgery if you are looking for a quick fix or plan on losing weight in the future. A skin graft can be expensive, depending on how many surgeries need to be done.
Can a Skin Graft Cover Up My Tattoo?
A skin graft can be used to cover up a tattoo that is no longer wanted. This could be done with a free flap, local flap, or delayed primary closure. The doctor makes an incision in the area around where he or she will be removing the tattoo and cutting away cells that are harmful. A plastic surgeon can use a skin graft to completely cover the tattoo or just to make it less visible.
Before you decide to have a skin graft for your tattoo, talk to your doctor about your goals and what you would like the final result to look like. You should not have this surgery if you are looking for a quick fix or plan on getting more tattoos in the future. A skin graft can be expensive, depending on how many surgeries need to be done.
