Parkland Hospital in Dallas does free skin removal to give to burn victims.

So, I visited with my sister-n-law on Saturday and she was telling me that Parkland Hospital in Dallas does free skin removal, so that they can transfer it to their burn victims. She was telling me that someone she knew was going to probably have this done. I told her to keep me posted on the quality of the job.  I have heard many times that this is a very painful surgery, but so many people want/need it.  If I end up needing it, since I would like to lose a total of 150 pounds, I think this would be my only option, because I have heard this is a very expensive surgery.

So, just giving all of you a heads up! If you are not from this area, maybe in the closest large city to you's public hospital just might offer the same thing. 

And, if by any chance anyone has had the surgery, if you could give your input on the surgery, recovery and results, that would be awesome!

Skinny Thoughts,

Beth 

Are you sure she's correct about that?  It's my understanding that usually they don't use skin from WLS patients for burn victims because the skin is often stretched and damaged, plus usually if  skin graft is required, more skin is needed than is removed from a typical WLS patients so they prefer to use cadaver skin.

I know in some cases you can choose to donate your skin but your surgery isn't free.  It's like when I had my long hair cut, I donated the hair to Locks of Love to make a wig for a child with cancer, but I still had to pay for the hair cut.

I suspect she's mistaken.

I'm with Kelly.  I have heard this rumor for many years and I have never heard of a single case of this.  To put this rumor to rest I have sent an email to Parkland Hospital for clarification.

Alas...no..nobody wants our stretched out, old skin..new, artificial, and sometimes refurbished cadaever skin is what is being utilized..

I am from from the Dallas area and know quite a few people who have participated in some of the Parkland "skin programs", of various types though. They have a FABULOUS burn center-possibly the best in the nation. UT Southwestern Medical School-part of the "family" Parkland is part of-has a program, for plastic/reconstructive surgery that you have to apply/be approved for, but then you only pay about 1/3 of what you normally pay. "Nearly surgeons" do the work, with "Master surgeons" standing at their elbow, watching every stitch. I personally have 3 good friends who gone thru this program with GREAT results..and really good after care too..It's like a "final exam grade" for these student surgeons. I'd gladly be their homework, if I could make myself be disciplined enough to save up the 1/3 of $$...obviously I don't want it badly ENOUGH, or I'd do it!

 

Is this still offered if so can have info on this program please 

 

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Hi shawn,

 

This is not true...

Sorry,

Kathy

Can we lock this thread somehow? It keeps getting resurrected.

Thank you ladies. Sounded to good to be true

My mom was told a local hospital did that too, but like these ladies say they don't want our defective skin when they can get "good" cadaver skin. Her insurance did pay for it but they still didn't want her old defective skin, it was just thrown away. So I suspect this is one of those urban myths that just refuses to die a peaceful death.