A full thickness skin graft takes the entire depth of skin, so it brings better colour, texture and durability to the wound. The donor area cannot resurface itself and has to be stitched closed, which limits how large the graft can be.
A full thickness skin graft removes skin down to the fat and transfers it as one complete piece. Because the whole dermis travels with it, the graft contracts less and usually blends more closely with nearby skin. The donor area has to be stitched shut, so graft size is limited and the technique suits smaller wounds in visible places.
This graft takes skin through its complete depth, so the whole dermis moves with it rather than being left behind. That extra thickness carries most of what makes skin look and behave like skin, which is why the healed patch tends to blend better and stay more supple than thinner grafted skin.
There is a catch. The donor area no longer has the deeper structures that would resurface it, so it must be stitched shut like any other wound. That places a firm limit on size, since only as much skin can be taken as the donor site can spare. Surgeons therefore choose donor areas with loose skin and a good colour match, and hide the resulting line in a natural crease wherever possible.
Thicker skin also needs more from the wound. Nutrients have further to travel and new vessels have further to grow, so the bed must be clean, healthy and free of infection. Movement or a collection of blood beneath the graft during the first days is the usual reason one fails.
Full thickness grafting suits smaller wounds where appearance and low contraction matter more than speed. The size of the wound and the health of its base decide whether it is possible.
Colour, texture and hair pattern guide where the skin comes from. Areas in front of or behind the ear, the neck, the inner upper arm and the groin crease are commonly used for facial wounds.
Wound edges are trimmed and the base cleaned so the graft rests on healthy tissue. Bleeding is controlled with care, because a collection underneath will keep the graft off its bed.
A template of the defect is drawn on the donor area, and skin is cut out through its full depth. Fat is then trimmed from the underside so nutrients can reach the graft quickly.
The graft is stitched into the defect and pressed against the base with a bolster dressing tied over the top. Steady contact for several days is what allows new vessels to grow in.
Finally the donor wound is closed as a line and treated like any stitched wound, with its stitches removed at the time that suits the body area.
The bolster dressing stays undisturbed and the area is kept still. Underneath, the graft often looks pale or dusky, which is expected at this stage.
The dressing comes off and take is assessed. Colour is often pink or purple to begin with, and stitches at both sites are usually removed.
The graft softens and settles into its surroundings. Moisturiser and sun protection start, and the donor line begins to fade.
Colour continues to even out, though some difference in shade or shine may remain. A raised or stepped edge can be reviewed at this point.
A graft that takes well usually blends better than thinner skin, though it seldom becomes invisible. Expect a patch that differs a little in shade or shine, with a faint outline at the edge. Early on it can look pink, purple or firm to touch. Improvement carries on for months as the blood supply matures. Where the colour stays noticeably different, further treatment can be discussed once the tissue has settled.
Take is less certain than with thinner skin, and the operation leaves two wounds. These points are discussed honestly before surgery is booked.
Both areas need looking after. The graft must stay still and protected, while the donor site is treated exactly like any stitched wound.
It usually blends better than thin skin, yet a difference in shade or shine commonly remains and can show in bright light.
Size is limited by the donor site, which must be stitched shut. Large wounds are generally better served by a thin graft or a flap.
New blood vessels grow in over several days. Movement, or a collection of blood during that window, is the usual reason a graft fails.
The donor area is a stitched wound in its own right and needs the same attention to cleanliness, tension and sun protection.
At Elegance Clinic in Surat, donor sites for facial grafts are chosen together with the patient, because where the skin comes from shapes how the result looks for years.
Technique pages do not carry their own price, because the cost depends on the treatment the technique is used within. The same graft may form part of a small skin cancer excision or of a larger reconstruction.
The written estimate given before admission covers surgery, anaesthesia, dressings for both sites and planned review visits. For bands, please see the relevant treatment page or the costs section.
These are the questions that come up most often in consultation. If yours is not here, send it on WhatsApp and the team will reply, usually the same day.
Ask your question →The technique carries no separate price, because it forms part of a wider treatment. Cost depends on the wound, the anaesthetic needed and the number of reviews. A written estimate covering all of this is given before the date is confirmed.
For most people it is a straightforward day case under local anaesthetic. The main concerns are the graft failing to take, bleeding beneath it and infection at either site. Fitness for anaesthesia is checked before surgery is booked.
The bolster over the graft is usually left for about a week so the tissue is not moved. Removing it early risks shearing the graft off its bed, so the timing is set by the surgical team rather than by comfort.
Desk work often resumes within a few days if the graft can be protected. Sport, swimming and anything that presses on the area wait longer. Timelines depend on the site involved, and recovery can vary.
It usually blends more closely than a thinner graft, but a small difference in shade or shine tends to remain, with a faint outline at the edge. Appearance keeps improving for many months after surgery.
Large defects, since the donor area must be stitched shut. Wounds exposing bare bone, tendon or cartilage are also unsuitable, as are infected wound beds. In those situations a thin graft, a flap or a staged plan is considered.
The wound is examined and measured, donor options are compared for colour and scar position, and photographs may be taken. Smoking, diabetes control and medicines that affect bleeding are reviewed, then a written estimate is issued.
Seeing patients from across the city and beyond: read about the practice on the plastic surgeon in Surat page, or check what a written estimate covers on the costs and insurance page.
