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Skin Donation After Tummy Tuck?

asked 1 year ago by anon
Latest answer by C. Bob Basu, MD
Question viewed 938 times
Tags: excess skin, after weight loss, skin

After bariatric surgery, there is a lot of excess skin that will need to be removed via Tummy Tuck. Can one donate this skin to a burn victim? I heard it's possible.

7 answers to Skin Donation After Tummy Tuck?

+2

Reasons Removed Excess skin from Body Contouring Procedures is not Used for Burn Patients

Regarding: "Skin Donation After Tummy Tuck?   After bariatric surgery, there is a lot of excess skin that will need to be removed via Tummy Tuck. Can one donate this skin to a burn victim? I heard it's possible" We do not use the skin removed from massive weight loss patients for other applications for multiple reason: 1. there are cheaper and better alternative and more are coming along each ear. 2. Removing the skin off the skin and fat flaps and... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+2

Tummy tuck: Save that skin AND fat as transplant donor

AT some point in the relatively near future this may be possible but there are a few issues at stake, One is economic. To make a biologic product availalble for tranplantation, the tissue must go extensive testing which can be cost prohibitive for a relatively small amount of skin. IF however, mutliple tisses are generated, then the costs may well be worth it as is the case with cadaver donors in which bone, corneas, livers, kidneys, skin, ext can be obtained. However the potential use... more
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Skin donation

Its a good idea, but as my colleagues have already stated.  There is nothing standardized that is available at this time.
C. Bob Basu, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.basuplasticsurgery.com

+1

Skin donation following tummy tuck

Thanks for the question. While the field of tissue engineering is making marked advances, at present most facilities are not capable of handling donor tissue for skin grafting. This may be possible in short course. For now, your tissue will most likely be disposed with hazardous waste.  Warmest Regards, Glenn Vallecillos, MD, FACS
Glenn Vallecillos, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Donating skin

Your right, it would be nice to donate your skin from a tummy tuck, but this is not a standard procedure at this point and sometimes under special situations they are used for research purposes.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Skin donation after tummy tuck

Great question!  But, unfortunately, there are only a few centers that can actually process the skin for use as a graft.  My recommendation would be to discuss this option with your surgeon and see what he/she says. I hope this helps! see video
Gregory A. Buford, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon
+1

Skin donation is possible after tummy tuck but under very special circumstances.

There are companies that use skin from operations for generation of various products.  This is very tightly controlled and only a few surgeons are specified as working with those companies. Random skin donations are not accepted.
Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

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