Question 1

i had split thickness skin grafts to my legs 10 months ago, am i ok to go swimming?

Accepted Answer

Mmmmmm...: I'm not sure we'd be the right people to answer this question for you.  Skin grafts can be quite fragile at times.  Have you been following up with the surgeon who did them? That would be the physician to really know how these have healed over the past 10 months and if something like swimming would be safe. Lots of bacteria in water, you know.

Question 2

my skin graft healed 2 years ago. i've been swimming recently. there is a red spot that has form just under the skin graft. is this normal?

Accepted Answer

Maybe: If it is a small amount if blood from mild trauma to the area, it is normal and should heal. Depending on where the graft is located, and the size, see your primary care or surgeon if it persists or gets worse. Hope this helps, and enjoy the summer!

Question 3

my legs have a lot of skin grafts. i've just taken up swimming - is the chlorine water safe on my skin graft? how do i care for skin after swimming?

Accepted Answer

If your: Doc has cleared you which I presume has happened then it is safe. Just be sure to keep your skin well moisturized.

Question 4

how do they do a skin graft?

Accepted Answer

Skin from one area..: Is taken off and put down somewhere else.  There is a lot of technical stuff but that's the basics.

Question 5

what issues might require a skin graft?

Accepted Answer

Tissue loss: Loss of the layers of skin or other soft tissue defects are some of the reasons. Typically, a skin graft is used to accelerate or improve healing. Common reasons for skin grafts include burns, trauma, skin ulceration, tissue loss from cancer.

Question 6

how do doctors remove skin for a graft?

Accepted Answer

Very carefully: It depends on whether is a full thickness skin graft of a split thickness skin graft. In full thickness the skin is comolete excised and the remaining defect is sewn together. In a split thickness graft we use a machine called a dermatome that shaves off the top few layers of the skin.

Question 7

what occurs during a skin graft procedure?

Accepted Answer

Skin transplant: An thin layer of skin is shaved off of the donor site on the body. That piece of skin may be turned into a mesh sheet. The skin graft is then transplanted to the area that needs it. The donor site (new wound) can be treated in a number of different ways.

Question 8

what can i do to make my skin graft go away?

Accepted Answer

Skin graft: You can't make your skin graft go away but you may be able to improve its appearance.  It depends on the size and location of the graft, the reason you needed the graft, and whether the graft was full thickness or partial thickness.  See the doctor that gave you te graft and ask what can be done to improve the appearance.

Question 9

what does it mean if a skin graft turns blue?

Accepted Answer

No worries: The skin graft will often appear to darken once it has "taken root" and established a blood supply.  Part of this is due to discoloration from the multiple small blood vessels in the wound bed.  The skin graft will lighten over time with stable results seen about 6 months to 1 year after grafting.

Question 10

how to deal with sun exposure and skin grafts?

Accepted Answer

Sun protection: Skin grafts often will discolor when exposed to sun light due to the pigment producing cells (melanocytes).  The melanocytes react by darkening the skin.  Unfortunately, the hyperpigmentation that occurs (darkening) might not lighten and may cause permanent discoloration.  Use good sun protection to skin grafted areas and fresh scars.

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Doctor answers about:

Graft skin swimming

A member asked:

I had split thickness skin grafts to my legs 10 months ago, am i ok to go swimming?

A member asked:

My skin graft healed 2 years ago. i've been swimming recently. there is a red spot that has form just under the skin graft. is this normal?

A member asked:

My legs have a lot of skin grafts. i've just taken up swimming - is the chlorine water safe on my skin graft? how do i care for skin after swimming?

A member asked:

How do they do a skin graft?

A member asked:

What issues might require a skin graft?

A member asked:

How do doctors remove skin for a graft?

A member asked:

What occurs during a skin graft procedure?

A member asked:

What can i do to make my skin graft go away?

A member asked:

What does it mean if a skin graft turns blue?

A member asked:

How to deal with sun exposure and skin grafts?

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