The skin is the largest and most vulnerable organ in our body and is the first line of defence against infections and diseases. Once it is compromised, the body reacts to invading germs, such as bacteria and viruses.
When the skin is damaged due to large wounds, burns, and even cancer, it can still be repaired through plastic and reconstructive surgery. One technique involves using a skin flap.
You must have come across this page wondering, “What is a skin flap surgery?” To learn more about this procedure, keep reading.
What is a Skin Flap?
First, let’s establish what a skin flap is. It is a piece of healthy skin or subcutaneous tissue removed from one area of the body to repair missing or damaged skin on another body part. A skin flap can be classified by the source and pattern of its blood supply.
It may contain skin, fat, muscle, sometimes both skin and fat, or sometimes even a bone. A skin flap is generally used to help heal burns, skin loss from a serious infection, venous ulcers, pressure ulcers, and diabetic ulcers that do not heal. It is also used to heal scars following surgery for skin cancer, mastectomy, or amputation.
Skin Flap vs. Skin Graft
A skin flap is different from a skin graft in that a flap remains connected to its origin and transferred with an intact blood supply. A graft, on the other hand, is a tissue that has been completely removed from its origin and relies on its recipient for blood supply.
When is skin flap surgery necessary?
It is used for the treatment of skin cancers and done when the injury or area that has lost skin tissue is too big and deep. A skin flap patches up and covers the area of any large wound. Through this surgery, form and function to areas of the body that lost skin tissues may be restored.
Skin flap surgery may also be done to repair traumatic scars to improve skin appearance. How is this possible? A skin flap actually has good colour matching and contains important skin structures that can cover up large, traumatic or surgical scars.
Types of Flap Surgery Methods You Should Know
The type of flap surgery method to be utilised depends on the location of the skin flap and the part that needs repairing. These are the different flap surgery methods:
- Bone/Soft Tissue Flap
This is often used when bone and the attached soft tissues are transported to another area of the body.
- Local Flap
This flap is located next to the wound. The skin remains attached at one end so the blood supply is left intact.
- Microvascular Free Flap
This method involves detaching and reattaching a piece of skin and overlying blood vessels from one site of the body to another site. To attach the blood vessels, microsurgery is utilised.
- Musculocutaneous Flap
This refers to muscle and skin flap often used when the area to be covered needs more bulk. This is usually done to rebuild a breast following a mastectomy.
- Regional Flap
This uses a section of skin tissue attached by a specific blood vessel.
What to expect:
It’s important to have general knowledge of the procedure prior to getting one. Here are some important things you should know about this particular surgery.
- If a huge part of your body lost some skin tissues, your dermatologist or surgeon will explain what type of skin flap you will need.
- Before the procedure, you may have to sign a consent form that you understand and agree to the surgery. Inform your doctor if you are taking any medication such as aspirin, dabigatran, and warfarin. These medications could make you bleed more.
- Generally, this procedure is done under local anaesthesia.
- During the procedure, your surgeon may need to create two wound sites, one on the site receiving the flap and the other where the skin flap is taken from or the donor site. These two sites are immediately adjacent, which means they will be dressed under one sterile dressing after the surgery.
- Expect your wound to be tender an hour or so after the excision when the local anaesthesia wears off.
- Stitches are usually removed 5-10 days after the procedure. There will be raised scarring but its colour and size fade over several months.
Additional Reminders
If you or your loved one will be undergoing this procedure, knowing what to do before and after you go under the knife can be helpful. Keep the following in mind:
- Inform your physician of any prior procedures, history of chronic illness, and allergies you may have.
- Stop drinking and eating for the recommended time period before and after surgery.
- Follow any specific instructions on pre-operative bathing, shaving, or cleaning.
- Do not wear makeup and contact lenses the day of surgery.
- Leave valuables at home.
- Arrange all insurance coverage prior to surgery. Many insurance providers do not cover many types of plastic and reconstructive surgery procedures.
- Advise surgical nurses and staff of dentures and other prosthetic devices you may be wearing.
- Discuss any post-operative instructions that need to be followed such as post-op medications and follow-up appointments.
We hope you found this guide helpful in answering your questions on skin flap surgery. This surgery is certainly an important treatment for skin cancers. Consult with a skin cancer physician if you are considering getting this surgery.
Skin Cancer Check
A report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) shows that melanoma is the most common cancer diagnosed in Australians. If you’re looking for a skin cancer clinic in NSW, turn to Erina Skin Cancer Clinic. Our clinic specialises in skin cancer mole check, which involves checking every single mole on your body to determine the cancerous ones. Get in touch with us so we can address your skin concerns.
