Flaps & Skin Grafts

Local and regional flaps, full-thickness and split-thickness skin grafts to reconstruct complex skin defects from cancer surgery or trauma.

What is the difference between a flap and a graft?

A skin graft is a piece of skin removed from one part of the body and transferred to another, where it takes a new blood supply from the wound bed. Grafts may be full-thickness or split-thickness.

A flap is a piece of tissue that retains its own blood supply, either by being moved on a vascular pedicle (local or regional flap) or by being completely detached and reconnected microsurgically at the new site (free flap). Flaps allow reconstruction of defects that grafts alone cannot reliably cover — for example, over bone, tendon, or hardware.

When is each used?

• Direct closure — for smaller defects with adequate adjacent skin laxity.
• Skin graft — for moderate defects with healthy underlying tissue.
• Local flap — for facial defects where colour match, contour and concealment of scars within aesthetic subunits are critical.
• Regional / free flap — for large, complex or composite defects.

Recovery

Recovery depends on the size and location of the reconstruction and the technique used. Most are performed as day procedures or with a short hospital stay. Dressings, wound care and follow-up arrangements are tailored to the individual reconstruction.

Related: See our scar management guide for the post-operative healing timeline, the daily silicone-and-massage protocol, and when to be concerned about a scar.

All surgical procedures carry potential risks and complications, which will be discussed in detail at your consultation.

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