Wound Care & Skin Grafts in Westchester County, NY

Plastic surgeons must assess their patients’ wound care needs on an individual basis as every patient brings to the recovery process their own health history, and responds to treatment differently. In determining how to treat a patient’s wound, a plastic surgeon must also take into consideration the size and severity of the wound, as well as its attributes.

What sets wound care aside from other plastic surgery procedures is that it is a concern for any reconstructive surgery that aims to treat areas of the body that have lost function and appearance. Because of this, the overarching goals of wound care and reconstructive procedures are nearly one and the same. The difference is that reconstructive procedures consider the appearance and function of the injured or disfigured area in a more general sense, while wound care focuses on the appearance and function of the skin.

Wound Care Indications

Wound care is aimed at addressing injuries and traumas to the skin. Specific examples include:

• Acute burns
• Severe scarring from burns and other injuries
• Wounds that cannot heal normally

During Surgery

First, a surgeon will assess the patient’s wound to determine which of the following approaches to wound care will be used: direct closure, skin grafts, tissue expansion, flap or microsurgery.

The most basic approach, direct closure, may be selected if the wound has straight edges, as in a simple cut. In this case, the surgeon sutures the wound closed.

If the wound is so wide that the surrounding tissue will not adequately cover it, a skin graft may be used. Skin grafts are taken from another area of the patient’s body and transferred to the wound site. When there is a lack of available tissue to complete a skin graft, allografts or xenografts may be used. Allografts are made from tissues of a human being other than the patient, and xenografts from other species.

For burn wounds, a split-thickness skin graft may be used. These grafts comprise layers of skin closest to the surface, and are often chosen to treat deep and large burn wounds, or to cover joints where elasticity is essential. Composite grafts are composed of layers of skin, fat, and sometimes even cartilage; these grafts supply the wound with support.

Tissue expansion is conducted in order to create adequate skin in order to complete a wound care procedure. A tissue expander is a balloon-like apparatus that the surgeon inserts just under the skin, and then fills with saline solution; over the course of days to weeks, the expander grows and new skin is created. Once enough new tissue has been created, the expander is removed and the skin is used to close the wound.

Finally, flap and microsurgery are used, sometimes in tandem, during complex reconstructive procedures. Flap surgery, the transfer of tissue including fat, skin, blood vessels and muscles, from one area of the body to the wound site, is often conducted using microsurgery. Microsurgery is a surgical technique in which a microscope or high-powered magnifying tool is used to provide precision during complex operations on small vessels and nerves.

Wound Care Aftercare

Patients receiving wound care treatment can expect some discomfort including swelling and bruising. Your surgeon will be sure to provide you with detailed instructions on how to care for your dressing and sutures

Please contact us with any questions about costs, risks and benefits of wound care, or if you would like to set up a consultation with Dr. Goldberg. Our offices are located in Dobbs Ferry and Scarsdale in Westchester County, New York.