Burn Center helping with tummy tucks.

Has anyone out there heard from anyone or know of anyone that went to burn center and donated their excess skin to burn centers for skin graphing in echange for the tummy tuck, etc? Brenda in New Mexico

Well known Urban legand. Sorry.

Unfortunately they have alternative methods for skin now that they don't need to do tummy tucks on people. I know my cousin was burned badly and they used pig skin for her grafts. Stronger than human skin. Pretty soon they will be making skin in the labs using dna. You might try a teaching hospital...to at least get it drastically reduced. Kristen

I think there might be places that accept donated skin...but not in exchange for paying for your surgery.

They are performing this in New Orleans, but the plastics including tummy tuck is not free! Ihave a friend that went last week for a consultation for plastic surgery for her arms. Her surgeon said they can donate their skin and the cost of the plastics would be reduced but not free.

Brenda, Hate to disillusion you but that's an Urban Legend. There is a huge burn center here in Dallas and they say that they definitely CAN NOT use skin from reconstructive surgery for skin grafts. Patty

Brenda, Dont feel bad, I have actually heard the same thing this past week and asked the same question.

Been there, done that! When I had my panniculactomy several years ago...I contacted the director of our local organ and tissue bank. I knew her from my work in a major hospital emergency room. I explained to her what my plans were and that there would be a large amount of skin removed and that I would love to donate it for transplantation if possible. She told me that ABDOMINAL SKIN contains too much skin and can not be used for transplant. She did some loooking into research projects and at that time, could not find any that needed tissue donations. While you are not going to receive your surgery in exchange for the skin donation, you may want to check with major teaching hospitals or research centers in your local area to see if they have a use for the removed tissue.