Instructions for Skin Graft Care

A skin graft is healthy skin that is used to replace damaged or missing skin. The graft is taken from another part of your body. This is called the donor site. You will need to care for both the graft and donor sites as instructed so they heal properly. Follow the instructions carefully. It will take 2 to 4 weeks or longer for the graft to completely heal. This varies from person to person and may depend on the size of the graft.

About your bandages

Your skin graft will have a bandage (dressing) on it. Underneath the graft bandage, you will likely have a “bolster.” This is a padded, yellow-colored covering secured to the surrounding skin with sutures (stitches). The bolster holds the skin graft in place. You will be asked to schedule a follow-up appointment with our nurse in 5 to 7 days. At this visit, your bolster will be removed.

Your donor site will have a thin gauze dressing on it. You will not have a bolster on the donor site.

Caring for the bandaged graft site

Do not touch your graft bandage for the first 24 hours following your procedure. After 24 hours, you may gently remove the outer gauze dressing that is covering your bolster. Please do not be alarmed if the gauze dressing is soiled. This is expected. Also, a yellowish residue may rub off from your bolster onto your gauze dressing.

Once the old gauze bandage is removed, you may apply a new piece of gauze dressing over your bolster and lightly secure it with tape.

Keep the bandage dry. Avoid any contact with water when bathing or showering.

Keep the bandaged area clean. Avoid getting dirt or sweat on it.

As often as possible, elevate the graft site above the level of your heart. Do this when sitting or lying down. This helps reduce swelling and fluid buildup in the graft area.

Keep the part of your body with the graft as still as possible. Avoid any movement that stretches or pulls the skin graft.

Caring for the bandaged donor site

Your donor site will have a thin gauze dressing on it.

You can gently remove the dressing 24 hours after your procedure. At this time, it is OK for soap and water to come in contact with the incision.

Please apply the over-the-counter Aquaphor® ointment to the donor site twice daily to keep the stitches moist.

If desired, you may reapply a gauze bandage, but this is not mandatory.

Please call our office if you notice either of these symptoms:

  • A large increase in redness, swelling or pain around your incisions
  • Excessive bleeding or drainage from your incisions

At-home care for your new skin graft

These instructions start once the bolster has been removed in our office. This is usually 5 or 6 days after your procedure. Please follow these instructions when taking care of your new skin graft. The skin graft is extremely delicate. To ensure its survival, you must be very gentle.

The graft must remain covered at all times. We will supply you with yellow Vaseline gauze.

  • Each morning, very carefully remove the old dressing
  • Cut the gauze to an appropriate size
  • Apply Aquaphor ointment directly onto the yellow gauze
  • Very gently place the gauze over the skin graft
  • Cover the gauze with plain white gauze
  • Secure the dressing with tape

Important to remember

These instructions need to be followed for 1 to 2 weeks or until you are seen for a follow-up appointment with your physician and instructed otherwise.

  • Do not get the graft wet until your physician says it is OK
  • Do not apply direct pressure to the graft site, including sleeping on it
  • Do not apply ice or heat to the graft site
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