Question:
I was told that a burn center hospital will surgically remove the excess skin from t

he stomach area and use for burn patients is anyone familiar with this and what the requirments or cost to me will be    — Tammy M. (posted on October 15, 2004)

October 14, 2004
That is an urban legend. This question come up every once in a while on this board. The skin from an obese patient has lost it elasticity and no longer is useful. When they use skin for burn victims they have to put it through some sort of an instrument that in turn stretches it even further before they apply it to the burn area. May be someone that has medical knowledge about this can explain it further. You can always call a local burn center and see what their experts say about donating skin it will not cost you anything to inquire, just your time to make the call and the cost of the phone call. Christine
   — ChristineB

October 15, 2004
Most of the time cadaver skin is used on burn patients, if they can't "harvest" enough skin from the burn victim, as it can be typed and processed (like any other organ). No one is going to give you free surgery. Post WLS people would be lined up for blocks if this was true!
   — koogy

October 15, 2004
Most of the time cadaver skin is used on burn patients, if they can't "harvest" enough skin from the burn victim, as it can be typed and processed (like any other organ. Post WLS people would be lined up for blocks if this was true!
   — koogy

October 15, 2004
That is an urban legend.
   — Marrilee M.

October 15, 2004
Not so as far as I know. I've heard this too. An Urban Legend. (((Hugs)))
   — Hazel S.

October 15, 2004
This is a funny question as I remember a Nurse Practioner telling me that I should check at a certain hospital to donate skin (so I can get the skin removed). I told her it was not true... sadly. She had no idea. By the way, I really need a full body lift but doubt NYS Medicaid would pay for it. If so, I have no idea how to go about getting approval.
   — Danmark

October 15, 2004
<When they use skin for burn victims they have to put it through some sort of an instrument that in turn stretches it even further before they apply it to the burn area> Yes, typically they try to get healthy skin from the patient themselves (like back, thigh, or somewhere that has healthy tissue). They use this cool electric cheese slicer type of tool that can be dialed up or down for a specific thickness of the skin that they want to harvest. They also use cadaver skin as well, as mentioned by someone else. Either way the skin is taken and run through this machine that is kind of like a noodle maker (press) with a serrated rolling pin (like a meat tenderizer surface)... it basically takes the skin and increases the surface area and makes it look similar to gauze. It is actually quite a fascinating procedure to see, if you are into medical stuff.
   — MagickalMom