What should you know about skin graft after?

A graft is placed over an area that needs skin coverage, while skin is taken from a donor site elsewhere on the body. Early care focuses on keeping the graft still, clean, and supported so it can connect with its new blood supply. Swelling, bruising, tightness, mild discomfort, and changes in colour can occur during healing.

The graft and donor site may have separate dressings and different instructions. Healing time depends on graft type, location, size, circulation, and the reason surgery was needed.

Keep dressings in place unless the surgical team tells you to change them. Avoid rubbing, pressure, soaking, strenuous movement, and smoking if your clinician has advised stopping, because these can interfere with healing. Take prescribed medicines as directed and keep scheduled wound checks. Do not apply creams, antiseptics, or adhesive products to the graft without approval.

Once the wound has closed, ask when moisturising, scar care, massage, and sun protection can begin. Later, [Fractional Laser Treatment](/treatments/laser-and-energy/fractional-laser-treatment/) may be discussed for selected scars, but only after the graft is fully healed and the surgeon agrees.

Contact the surgical team promptly if the graft becomes increasingly painful, hot, swollen, foul-smelling, very dark, pale and cold, or starts lifting. Also report persistent bleeding, fluid soaking through the dressing, fever, or sudden separation of the wound. Do not wait for a routine visit if the graft looks loose or the change is rapidly worsening.

Ask how to protect each site, which symptoms are expected, when you can wash or exercise, and how follow-up will check graft attachment. Ask when scar treatment is safe and how to protect the area from daylight. The main procedure is described in [Skin Graft](/treatments/surgical-dermatology/skin-graft/).