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Skin Grafting In Mumbai
Expert Surgical Skin Replacement for Burns, Wounds, and Reconstructive Needs at Shree Hospitals
Skin grafting is a surgical procedure in which healthy skin is transferred from one area of the body (the donor site) to cover a wound, burn, or area where skin has been lost due to injury, infection, or disease. At Shree Hospitals, our specialist plastic and reconstructive surgeons perform split-thickness, full-thickness, and composite skin grafts using advanced surgical techniques to achieve optimal wound closure, functional restoration, and the best possible cosmetic outcome for every patient.
Burn, Wound, or Skin Loss? Consult Our Plastic Surgery Team Today
Quick facts
Graft Types: Split-Thickness, Full-Thickness, Composite
Anaesthesia: General or Regional Anaesthesia
Duration: 1 to 3 hours (depending on wound size)
Hospital Stay: 3 to 7 days (wound size and site dependent)
Recovery: 2 to 4 weeks for graft maturation
Support Team: Plastic surgeons, wound care nurses, physiotherapists
Key Benefit: Rapid bilirubin reduction, prevents kernicterus and brain damage
What is Skin Grafting?
Skin grafting is one of the oldest and most reliable procedures in reconstructive surgery, used to replace skin that has been destroyed, damaged, or is unable to heal on its own. When a wound is too large to close with sutures, or when the local tissue has been so severely damaged that primary healing is not possible, a skin graft provides living tissue to cover the wound bed, restore the skin barrier, prevent infection, and allow functional and cosmetic recovery. The skin is a vital organ and its loss - whether from burns, trauma, infection (necrotising fasciitis), diabetic ulcers, or surgical excision of tumours - must be addressed promptly and surgically when conservative measures are insufficient.
A split-thickness skin graft (STSG) harvests the epidermis and a portion of the dermis from a donor site (commonly the thigh or back) using a dermatome and is used to cover large wound areas. A full-thickness skin graft (FTSG) includes the full depth of skin and is used for smaller areas where a better cosmetic result and less contraction are needed, such as the face, hands, or joints. Composite grafts include skin and underlying cartilage or fat and are used in specific reconstructive situations such as nasal tip or ear defects. Each graft type is selected based on the wound size, location, functional requirements, and available donor tissue.
At Shree Hospitals, our plastic and reconstructive surgery team performs skin grafting across the full range of clinical indications - acute burns, chronic non-healing wounds, post-traumatic skin loss, post-oncological resection defects, and complex reconstructive cases. We use meshing techniques for large STSG coverage, negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) to optimise the graft bed before and after grafting, and silicone gel sheeting post-operatively to minimise donor site scarring and improve graft cosmesis. Our multidisciplinary wound care team supports all patients through the graft take and maturation phases.
Who Needs Skin Grafting?
Exchange transfusion is indicated when:
Skin grafting is recommended for:
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- Burn injuries (partial and full thickness burns) where the wound will not heal spontaneously within 3 weeks
- Traumatic skin loss from road traffic accidents, degloving injuries, or industrial injuries
- Diabetic foot ulcers and pressure sores (bedsores) that have failed to heal with conservative wound care
- Necrotising fasciitis and other severe soft tissue infections requiring surgical debridement and skin cover
- Post-excision defects after removal of skin cancers, melanomas, or other skin tumours
- Chronic venous leg ulcers unresponsive to compression therapy and wound management
- Contracture release where scar contractures limit joint movement and require skin replacement
Is Skin Grafting Right for You?
A skin graft is appropriate when:
- The wound bed is clean, well-vascularised, and free of infection (confirmed by wound swab culture)
- The wound cannot be closed by primary suturing or local flap due to size or tissue loss
- Conservative wound management over an adequate period has not resulted in healing
- Nutritional status has been optimised (albumin and haemoglobin checked) to support graft take
- There is sufficient donor skin available at a suitable site on the body
- The patient is medically stable enough to tolerate anaesthesia and surgery
Why Prompt Skin Grafting Improves Outcomes?
Delays in skin cover lead to:
- Wound infection and sepsis risk, particularly in burns and open traumatic wounds
- Progressive wound deepening and extension of tissue loss
- Prolonged hospital stay, increased nursing burden, and higher treatment costs
- Scar contractures forming across joints, causing functional impairment and permanent deformity
- Psychological impact of visible open wounds and prolonged dressing-dependent care
- Early, well-executed skin grafting reduces infection risk, shortens healing time, enables rehabilitation, and significantly improves the final cosmetic and functional outcome
Expert skin grafting achieves a graft take rate of over 95% at Shree Hospitals, restoring skin cover and enabling faster recovery.
Our plastic and reconstructive surgery team at Shree Hospitals uses advanced graft bed preparation, negative pressure wound therapy, and meticulous surgical technique to deliver consistently high graft take rates and the best possible cosmetic and functional outcomes for every patient.
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Our Approach to Skin Grafting
At Shree Hospitals, every skin grafting case is planned individually. We assess the wound, select the most appropriate graft type, prepare the donor site to minimise scarring, and support the patient through graft maturation with specialist wound care, compression garments, and scar management.
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Wound Bed Optimisation Before Grafting
Successful skin graft take depends entirely on the quality of the wound bed. Before grafting, our team performs thorough wound debridement to remove all non-viable tissue, achieves haemostasis, treats any underlying infection with targeted antibiotics (guided by wound culture sensitivity), and optimises the wound with negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT / vacuum dressing) where indicated. Nutritional status is reviewed and corrected - albumin levels are critical for graft healing.
Precise Graft Harvest and Placement
Our plastic surgeons harvest split-thickness grafts using a calibrated electric or air-powered dermatome to achieve uniform graft thickness (typically 0.010 to 0.016 inch). For large wounds, the graft is meshed (expanded in a 1.5:1 or 3:1 ratio) to cover a greater surface area and allow wound exudate to drain. For cosmetically sensitive areas (face, hands), full-thickness grafts harvested from the groin, post-auricular, or supraclavicular areas are preferred for their superior texture and colour match.
Donor Site Management
The donor site is itself a wound that requires careful management. We dress donor sites with semi-occlusive dressings (Mepitel, Allevyn) that promote rapid re-epithelialisation within 10 to 14 days and minimise donor site pain and scarring. Donor site selection is planned to allow concealment by clothing wherever possible. In repeat grafting cases, healed donor sites can be re-harvested once fully re-epithelialised. Donor site scar management with silicone gel or sheets begins once healing is complete.
Post-Graft Rehabilitation and Scar Management
After graft take is confirmed (typically at day 5 to 7 post-operatively), our team begins scar management and functional rehabilitation. For grafts across joints, physiotherapy is commenced early to prevent contracture formation. Pressure garments are fitted for burn grafts and large-area grafts to reduce hypertrophic scarring. Silicone gel sheets are prescribed for 12 to 24 hours per day for 6 to 12 months post-grafting.
Top Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon in Mumbai
Every specialist at Shree Hospitals is board-certified and has an average of 15+ years of clinical experience in skin grafting, burn surgery, reconstructive surgery, wound management, and scar rehabilitation.
24×7 Emergency Care
Dr. Suyash Yashwant Patankar
Consultant Plastic, Reconstructive
Dr. Arun V. Sheth
Consultant Plastic, Cosmetic
Dr. Abhijeet Dharmaji Sawant
Consultant Plastic, Reconstructive, Aesthetic
Dr. Udit Dalmia
Consultant Plastic, Aesthetic
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Services At Shree Hospitals
We offer a comprehensive range of plastic and reconstructive surgery procedures including skin grafting, flap surgery, cleft repair, microsurgery, breast reconstruction, scar revision, wound debridement, and functional rhinoplasty, all delivered by specialist plastic surgeons.
Step by Step Process of Exchange Transfusion at Shree Hospitals
Step 1 - Wound Assessment and Pre-Operative Planning
The plastic surgeon assesses the wound - measuring the defect area, evaluating the wound bed quality (presence of granulation tissue, infection, slough, or eschar), and determining whether a split-thickness, full-thickness, or composite graft is most appropriate. Wound swabs are sent for culture and sensitivity. Blood tests including haemoglobin, albumin, blood sugar (critical in diabetic patients), and clotting profile are checked. The donor site is selected and discussed with the patient. Pre-operative optimisation of nutrition, blood sugar control, and infection treatment is completed before proceeding to surgery.
Step 2 - Anaesthesia Skin grafting
This is performed under general anaesthesia for most cases. Regional anaesthesia (spinal or epidural) is an option for lower limb grafting in patients with anaesthetic risk factors. The patient is positioned to allow access to both the wound and the planned donor site simultaneously where possible, reducing total operative time.
Step 3 - Wound Bed Preparation in Theatre
Any remaining non-viable tissue is sharply excised (tangential excision for burns) to create a clean, bleeding wound bed ready to accept the graft. Haemostasis is achieved with diathermy and topical adrenaline-soaked swabs. The wound is measured precisely and the donor site is marked accordingly.
Step 4 - Graft Harvest
The donor site is infiltrated with dilute adrenaline solution to reduce bleeding. A calibrated dermatome is used to harvest the split-thickness graft at the planned thickness. The graft is inspected for uniform thickness and then meshed if required using a meshing board and roller. Full-thickness grafts are harvested with a scalpel and the donor site is closed primarily with sutures.
Step 5 - Graft Placement and Fixation
The harvested skin graft is laid onto the wound bed with the dermal side down. It is trimmed to fit the wound edges precisely. The graft is secured with absorbable sutures (Vicryl) or staples around the perimeter. A bolster dressing (paraffin gauze plus proflavine wool) is placed over the graft and tied down with sutures to maintain constant contact and prevent movement. Alternatively, NPWT is applied directly over the graft for improved graft take in complex or contoured wounds.
Step 6 - Post-Operative Care and Graft Check
The graft dressing is left undisturbed for 5 to 7 days (the critical immobilisation period for graft revascularisation). The patient is instructed on limb elevation to reduce oedema. At the first dressing change, graft take is assessed - a pink, adherent graft indicates successful take. Failed areas are debrided and re-grafted as required. Donor site dressings are changed as needed until re-epithelialisation is complete (10 to 14 days). Compression garments and scar management are commenced once the graft has matured.
Patient Questions About Skin Grafting
Will the skin graft look exactly like normal skin?
A skin graft will restore skin cover and protect the wound, but it will not look exactly like the surrounding normal skin. Split-thickness grafts often have a slightly different colour, texture, and sheen compared to adjacent skin, particularly in the early months. Full-thickness grafts provide a better cosmetic match for visible areas such as the face or hands. Over 12 to 24 months, grafts gradually improve in appearance as they mature and blend with the surrounding skin. Scar massage, silicone gel, and pressure therapy all improve the long-term cosmetic result. Laser treatments can further improve graft appearance in selected patients.
How painful is the donor site after skin grafting?
The donor site is often described as more painful than the grafted wound itself in the first few days, as it is a superficial skin abrasion covering a larger area. Pain is managed with regular oral analgesia and appropriate dressing selection - modern semi-occlusive donor site dressings (such as Mepitel or Mepilex) significantly reduce donor site pain compared to traditional gauze dressings. Donor sites typically re-epithelialise within 10 to 14 days and pain reduces substantially once the surface heals over. The donor site scar fades over 6 to 12 months and is usually concealed by clothing.
Can the skin graft fail, and what happens if it does?
Partial or complete graft failure can occur and is more common when there is poor wound bed quality, underlying infection, haematoma or seroma beneath the graft, excessive movement, or poor nutrition. Signs of graft failure include a pale, grey, or necrotic appearance of the graft at the first dressing change. Failed graft areas are debrided and the wound is managed with appropriate dressings until conditions allow re-grafting. Our team takes every precaution before and during surgery to maximise graft take rate, but some patients - particularly those with diabetes, vascular disease, or ongoing infection - require more than one grafting procedure to achieve full wound closure.
How long does it take to fully recover after skin grafting?
The graft take phase - during which the graft gains its blood supply from the wound bed - takes 5 to 7 days. Full graft maturation (the graft becoming soft, pliable, and integrated with surrounding tissue) takes 3 to 6 months. Most patients are discharged from hospital within 3 to 7 days after grafting, depending on the wound size and overall medical condition. Physiotherapy and rehabilitation for grafts over joints continue for several months to prevent contracture. Pressure garment therapy for burn grafts is recommended for 12 to 18 months post-operatively to control hypertrophic scarring.
Evidence-Based Case Studies by Our Specialists
Would Recommend Us
"I was terrified when I arrived at Shree Hospitals with severe burns. The plastic surgery team operated quickly and explained every step. My grafts healed well and the rehabilitation team helped me walk again within weeks. The care I received was exceptional."
Mr. Vikram P.
"My foot ulcer had not healed in months despite all the dressings and treatments. The plastic surgeon at Shree Hospitals prepared the wound carefully before the graft and the result was remarkable - the wound finally closed and I avoided amputation."
Mrs. Sunita K.
"My accident left me with a serious skin injury to my arm. The surgical team at Shree Hospitals grafted the wound within days and the physiotherapy team made sure my hand and wrist recovered fully. I am now back to normal activities."
Mr. Rohan S.
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