Skin graft healing

Hi and welcome to the online community

I haven't had the procedure that you've had so unfortunately can't give you the benefit of any experience.

There are quite a lot of people in this group who have had skin grafts so you could try typing 'graft' into the search bar in this group and look for posts that mention this. When you find one that is relevant you could respond to the poster to ask them how they got on and how long it took to heal.

Another thing that you could do is use the ask a nurse section of this site to ask one of the specialist nurses about how long your wound areas should take to heal. If you'd like to do this just click on the link I've created.

Hopefully the antibiotic cream will help it heal more quickly as I do understand your reluctance to be seen out and about.

x

Hi Nici 26, 

Sorry you're feeling so down, its not an easy process to go through. 

I had a Bcc removed from my forehead and a skin graft taken from my shoulder, with a dressing stitched on over the top too. This was on 5th June, so about 3 months ago.

After 1 week, they took the stitches out of the dressing and removed that, then had a normal dressing put on for a week. All the rest of my stitches were dissolvable, so thankfully I didn't have to have anymore of that. 

Week 2, they took the dressing off and said to leave it uncovered as much as possible, but rub vaseline or E45 into it. I would rub it round the outside of the graft as that was where the scabs were, and also I didn't really want to touch the middle bit!! I did touch it once by mistake and it just felt like raw chicken skin!!

The scabs didn't totally disappear until about 6 weeks later, then I would rub the cream all over the graft. 3 months later it is such a difference, there's a few little bumps, which is scar tissue I think, and still a bit red round the edges. I now use cover up make up and while it doesn't totally disappear, it is a lot less noticeable.

First time I used the make up, I thought I'd ask my daughter (who never holds back on opinions) what she reckoned and her response was 'Oh my god, has it gone!' (made me cry!!)

I had my follow up appointment with the surgeon a couple of weeks ago, where they confirmed they had got all the cancer cells, fantastic news.

But I totally understand how you feel, I'm lucky that mine is on my forehead and I can wear a hat or headband when I'm out, but I still have days when I look in the mirror and think i don't really want to see anybody today. 

I think everybody is different, especially depending on where the graft is and it's size. 

Please feel free to ask me anything else if you want, but I think I've waffled for long enough now!!

Hope this helps a little bit, I've found these forums really reassuring. 

Take care

Sarah 

Hi Sarah

thank you so much for your reply!!

It‘s so good to hear it will get to a point where I can cover it with make up! And you are right, because it is in the middle of my face, that‘s the only way I will be able to cover it. But anywhere on the face is just horrible! 

So since I wrote the post yesterday, I put the cream on last night. But when I woke up this morning, probably because of the moisture of the cream, it was even more blistery. I started to panic because the whole graft now felt like there was fluid under it. So my mother in law had enough and drove me to A&E. We live rather rural and I don‘t drive long distances so she said she‘s got time to take me today. I saw a lovely Doctor, he wasn‘t too concerned about the fluid but cleaned the whole graft because he said there was so much dead skin which prevents it from healing. Now I read you shouldn‘t remove the scabs but he said it was fine. To be honest, it does look more „normal“ now, instead of purple with yellow blisters, it‘s now pink. But there is one bit right in the middle that looks open und bloody. He said to keep putting the antibiotic cream on it and it will be fine. Now I‘m worried about that „injured“ bit in the middle. Can that heal? I mean since it‘s a graft, can it recover? I really need to stop to panic, I drive everyone mad with my constant worry. I mean if this was on my arm I would probably put a plaster on it and just trust it will heal at some point... 

Do/Did you find it hard to explain how you feel? Why you don‘t want to go out? 

Thank you again for sharing your journey with me!

Nicole

Hi Nicole, 

Oh blimey, sorry to hear you had to go through that. I don't think anybody can stop us worrying about these things, can they. I know I'm a terrible worrier.

I am in no way an expert in these things, but the good thing is that a doctor has looked at it and sounds like he was quite reassuring. I can only speak from my own experience, but if you have any concerns, I wouldn't hesitate to try to see your own doctor (if that's possible?)

Its still early days for you, so try to cut yourself some slack, I think you're allowed to worry a bit when you've been through this. And with time it will get better, and you will feel less panicky, I'm sure. 

I don't think I'm very good at explaining how I feel about how I look now. Unfortunately, we lost my mother in law to breast cancer 2 weeks after I had my op, and on the day of her funeral, learned that my mum's cancer was back, so things sort of took a back seat with me really. Probably did me good in a way, that I had to get up and do things as hubby was away caring for his Mum and Dad at the time. 

And as I said I'm a bit more fortunate, as my graft is on my forehead so probably makes it easier for me to face people. 

I have a lovely friend down the road who is always ready to chat and listen to me. Do you have anyone close? Maybe not family, who can go out with you, just to give you a bit more confidence and moral support? 

Take care

Sarah

Dear Sarah

So sorry to hear about your mother in law. And how is your mother? It always has to come all at once doesn‘t it?! It was my uncle‘s funeral the day of my surgery (I missed it) and then my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer last week. They do believe it can be treated tho but that stressed me even more because my parents live in a different country and I can‘t fly with a big dressing over my face. 

Did you have dissolvable stitches? And when they dissolve?Mine are mostly still in place and sticking out all over the place. Also I was told I need to clean the graft to avoid the cream building up but I don‘t know how to. Tried to just run water over it in the shower but the cream stuck to the scabs so I tried with a cotton bud but was scared to take of the scab. 

I was thinking I might start to do at least the school run again in a few days, but will put a dressing on. Do you think it will be ok to put a dressing on it during the day?

I don‘t really have anyone to talk to except hubby and his mum but he doesn‘t really understand. He says to be happy the cancer is gone, the rest will heal. My kids are too young and I have friends but don‘t want to bother them all the time. 

Can I ask how old you are? I am 38 and was told it‘s rare to get this so young but looking through this group there are a few that are even younger.

Have a great start to the new week! Might things improve!

Nicole

Hi Nicole, 

Well, you're right about it all happening at the same time, it must be so worrying for you not being able to visit your parents, especially at the moment. Are you able to do a video call with them? We live away from family too, although not in different countries (unless you count England and Wales!) and its always a bit more reassuring to see someone rather than being on the phone.

My Mum is an inspiration to me really, 4 years ago she was diagnosed with bowel cancer, went through radiotherapy, chemotherapy and countless operations and stays in hospital. She was clear for 4 years, unfortunately now its back in her lungs and inoperable, but they are treating it at the moment so she's going through chemotherapy again. She goes through it all without moaning and a determination to carry on with normal life as much as she can. At 78, she still rides her bike, (although not as far as she used to) they go to the gym once a week, and is usually the one handing out hymn books at church on a Sunday morning.

Anyway, sorry to go on about my mum, I do try to channel her determination on days when I feel a bit wobbly.

Yes, I had dissolvable stitches on the graft, can't really remember when they all disappeared, there was definitely still some there after 2 weeks as the nurse mentioned them to me. They might have all disappeared after 3-4  weeks but don't quote me on that. Sorry I can't advise on cleaning it (don't want to give you the wrong advice) maybe ring up the nurse and ask advice? If that's possible.

Should have thought about this before, but I took photos of my head every week to compare what it was looking like, then you can look back and think, oh yes it is looking much better, or you can see any changes in it. 

Have you been out at all yet? A walk down the road? I'm sure it would be OK to put a loose dressing over the graft just to go out, that's what I did. The school run sounds like a good idea, good luck and let me know how you get on. 

Afraid I've got a few years on you, I'm 49 (and a half!!)

Good luck with the school run!!

Sarah x

Hi Nicole

I was wondering how you were doing and if your graft had settled down now?

x

Thank you so much for asking. I ended up with more antibiotics but saw consultant last week and he said it has taken and it will heal. It actually doesn‘t look too bad now except that it is very high. I tried to put concealer on it yesterday but it looked horrible, like something was stuck on my face so just put tape on it again. How long does it take till it flattens?

How are you doing?

x

Hi

I'm really glad to hear that it all seems to be healing nicely now. I didn't have a skin graft so I don't know how long it takes for the graft to flatten. You could have a look through some of the previous posts in the group that mention skin grafts to see if you can find an answer or start a new post asking the question.

I'm well thank you. My skin cancer was a melanoma so after the initial operations I now go every three months to the hospital for a check-up. My next one is in a month's time and I always get slightly anxious as the date approaches that they'll find something. So far so good though thankfully.

x