Question:
Can we donate excess skin to a burn unit?

I wanted to know if we can donate excess skin from plastic surgery to a burn unit? If anyone know anythng please let me know. Thank-you and God Bless You!    — florida cracker (posted on May 13, 2005)

May 13, 2005
No, unfortunately that is a myth. They are able to utilize cadaver skin and they are able to regenerate skin. So, they can't do anything with ours. Sigh........I wish they would! Hugs...Erika
   — Egyptianeyesdiva

May 13, 2005
Nope. Our skin is useless to them as it has lost it's elasticity.
   — mrsmyranow

May 13, 2005
Sorry, but that's an urban myth. Everyone seems to have heard of it, and it makes sense, at first, but unfortunately it's not true. Not knowing for sure if my insurance is going to pay for plastics later on down the road, I researched this deeply, hoping there was a chance. Unfortunately, what I found was quote after quote from doctors, plastic surgeons, and even the head of the Shriners Hospitals Burn Unit Skin Bank (Who are usually featured in this story we hear) and they all said the same thing. They cannot use our skin. It is too thin, usually overstretched, has poor circulation, etc. And there is more than enough cadaver skin to go around, which is much more easily and cheaply harvested and processed for their purposes. I know that's a letdown. I had hoped, even if I had to pay for plastics, to make SOME good of my excess, but apparently there are better, safer, more cost efficient ways for them to go about it.But at least I finally got the definitive answer on it! :)
   — christied

May 13, 2005
This is an urban legend of the donation. See the library on this site; there is a ton of similar questions.
   — ChristineB