Question:
Burn Clinic-anyone heard of any offering free plastic surgery

I have heard that burn clinics will do free plastic surgery because they need the loose skin for their paitents. It sounds pretty logical. Has anyone ever did this, or heard of it? I'm in Ohio so if you know of a clinic nearby I think I might be interested. Thanks =)    — Angela P. (posted on June 6, 2002)

June 6, 2002
From what I've heard, this is definately NOT true. I actually checked w/UCLA and from what I was told, most burn clinics will use either 1) skin from the patients, 2) cadaver skin or 3) synthetic skin. I think this is another one of those "urban legends". Sort of like the..."if you forward this to 100 people and don't break the chain, Microsoft will track your email and pay you $200!" If only it were true!
   — Rosario T.

June 6, 2002
I live in Michigan and was told by my pcp that if you call the U of M ann arbor burn center, they do the tucks for free...its worth a call!!!
   — DIANE B.

June 6, 2002
I found the following at<p> http://www.shrinershq.org/Hospitals/<p? Choose Shriners Hospitals<p> Then Burns<p> Go to bottom of page<p> Click on Boston<p> Go down to where there is a 'new' flag labelled<p> Skin, like other organs, can be donated to save lives </WhatsNewArch/Archives01/donateskin11-01.html> <p>Click on this.<p> To the left and close to the bottom of the doctor's picture you will find the following:<p> "We receive a lot of calls about skin donation," says Phil Walters, director of the skin bank at the Boston hospital. He says the two most frequently asked questions are: is skin taken from a living donor and can tissue surgically removed from a patient by procedures such as those performed to reduce obesity be donated. "The answer to both questions is no," says Walters. "Skin is procured from a deceased organ donor, just like any other donated organ."
   — garw