What should you know about face skin graft?

A surgeon removes a thin piece of skin from a donor site and places it over a wound on the face. The graft needs close contact with the wound bed so it can receive nourishment while new blood vessels grow into it. The donor site is also a healing wound. Grafts may be considered after injury, removal of a skin lesion, burns or reconstruction when the wound cannot close easily. The colour, texture and thickness may differ from nearby facial skin.

Before surgery, share medicines, allergies, smoking history and conditions that affect healing. Follow the surgical team’s dressing and washing instructions exactly; do not pick crusts or apply products unless advised. Protect the graft from rubbing, pressure and sun while it heals. Keep scheduled reviews so the team can check attachment and wound edges. A fractional laser may sometimes be discussed later for texture or scar appearance, but timing depends on complete healing and the surgeon’s assessment.

Contact the surgical team promptly for increasing pain, spreading redness, warmth, swelling, pus, fever, heavy bleeding, a bad smell or a dressing that becomes soaked. A graft that turns dusky, grey or black, lifts, or develops an enlarging gap needs prompt assessment. Seek emergency care for severe bleeding, breathing difficulty or rapidly worsening swelling.

Ask why a graft is recommended, where the donor skin will come from, how both sites will be dressed, what scarring or colour difference may remain, and when work, exercise, washing and sun exposure can resume. Ask who to contact outside clinic hours.