Question:
Has anyone heard of using a burn center to "donate" skin taken off from tummy tuck?

I have a friend who told me she heard that some of the major burn centers would do a tummy tuck or body lift for little or no charge so they could use your skin for burn victims.    — MarthaS (posted on December 3, 2007)

December 2, 2007
I am interested in what the answers may be, I am from Ohio and I have heard the same thing but don't know of any hospitals that do it. Good luck.
   — PAWLLA L.

December 2, 2007
My cousin who lives in Maryland is doing this exact thing. I can try and get more information if you would like?
   — slayer_meow

December 2, 2007
It would be nice if someone could get some real information on this, because I heard the same thing. I was interested in doing it so I did a bit of research and the information that I found says they cannot use the skin from plastic surgery, that they only use cadavor skin.
   — *Malena* M.

December 2, 2007
this has come up a lot in the past its a urban legend. MOs skin is overstretched, and for that reason doesnt graft well plus prep for grafting is expensive so cadevers are used since all the skin can be used. recently I heard they can grow replacement skin too.
   — bob-haller

December 3, 2007
I believe I read an article that said that it can be donated for breast reconstruction for mastectomy patients. I'm thinking I read this in either the OH Magazine or Prevention Magazine.
   — cmbirkey

December 3, 2007
Yes, I have heard of this but have not really checked it out as of yet.
   — Alvernlaw

December 3, 2007
It's funny that you ask this, because for yearssssss I have told people I wondered if it was possible because I could furnish several patients with grafts as well as reconstruction! Seriously though, if you can donate I would gladly do so! My mother is going thru reconstruction now. hmmmm I guess I should have her ask her Dr.
   — katiebelle

December 3, 2007
Big hoax. I wish it were true. The person who says her relative is doing it, please email with more info, because if it is true, then I will contact these two sites and give them the 411. :) Best Wishes. http://www.transweb.org/reference/articles/donation/excess_skin_donation.html http://plasticsurgery101.blogspot.com/2007/09/urban-legend-debunked-can-you-donate.html
   — mrsidknee

December 3, 2007
I would love to hear if this is true, HOWEVER being an RN my better judgement tells me it is not, as Skin from "us" bariatric patients would be less likely to take to grafting well with the poor circulation it has received and from bein over stretched. Not to mention obese patient or the formerly obese patient's skin is more succeptable to skin problems, rashes, and infections; along with being more prone to folliculitis. I would love to hear more from the OH member whose relative is doing this. I would love to read the research on it.
   — Tomi D.

December 3, 2007
Bob & Sid are right its a big hoax I heard the same thing ys ago after I had my WLS and checked into it the place I was told did it and they said it was not ture b/c of how bad our skin is streched also it hast to be a perfect match just like if someone gets a new liver or lung or other body part like that it would be nice if it was true best of luck to you Huggss Beth
   — Beth67Mathis

December 4, 2007
Yes some of them do, I am actually on a waiting list. Only because I haven't lost all of my weight yet. I will try and post the www address on here as soon as I can that way everyone will have it. I live in Ohio, so Im not sure what all states have it. Paula
   — japaad

December 4, 2007
If you subscribe to OH Magazine, look on page 69 of the Nov/Dec 2007 issue. It is true that the skin can be donated and is used for "breast reconstruction, abdominal wall repair for hernias or trauma, and more." The ad is by the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation. They give their website as www.mtf.org.
   — terrijp

December 4, 2007
I believe it's an urban myth and the explanations for why it can't be done in the links make a lot of sense to me. I suspect a few things here from the few places that seem to claim it can be done - a) maybe they'd take the skin, just in case it could be used, but that doesn't mean they're going to take it off of you, and certainly not for free or b) they're really harvesting names for a plastic surgeon's practice. In most cases burn victims get skin grafts from unburned parts of their bodies because it's much less likely to be rejected or have other complications, or from cadavers where there isn't a 6 month quarantine period on the skin. Our loose, stretched and stretch-marked skin is hardly the ideal for skin grafts.
   — sandsonik

Click Here to Return