Skin Grafts

If a large area of skin must be removed during surgery, a skin graft may be done to reduce scarring. In a skin graft, the surgeon first numbs and then removes a patch of healthy skin from another part of the body, such as the upper thigh, and then uses it to replace the skin that is removed to cover the wound from surgery. This is done at the same time as the skin cancer surgery. The surgeon first numbs and then removes a patch of healthy skin from another part of the body. The patch is then used to cover the area where skin cancer was removed. If you have a skin graft, you may have to take special care of the area until it heals.

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The time it takes to heal after surgery is different for each person. You may be uncomfortable for the first few days. However, medicine can usually control the pain. Before surgery, you should discuss the plan for pain relief with your doctor or nurse. After surgery, your doctor can adjust the plan if you need more pain relief. For any type of surgery, including skin grafts, it is important to follow your doctor's advice on bathing, shaving, exercise, or other activities. Depending on the extent of your graft, you may need from several days to several weeks to resume normal activities.

Surgery nearly always leaves some type of scar. The size and color of the scar depend on the size of the cancer and how your skin heals.