After a skin graft, the skin graft area and the donor site— the place where the new skin came from—may be painful and swollen.
But your child will get medicine for pain.
It should get better in a few days.
Your care team will tell you how to take care of the bandages.
Keep the area of the skin graft dry while it heals, unless your doctor gives you other instructions.
Your child may have a splint to help protect the area.
To keep your child more comfortable, help your child keep the skin graft area raised.
This also helps reduce swelling and fluid buildup.
Your child may need physical therapy.
It depends on where the graft is on your child's body.
The exercises may hurt, but physical therapy is very important to help your child heal.
After the area heals, it may feel and look different than it did before the injury.
Use lotion regularly to keep the area moist.
And protect the graft and donor sites from the sun.
Your doctor will show you other ways to care for the skin.
After going home, be sure that your child follows any instructions about diet or activity, and takes medicines as prescribed.
And be sure to follow any instructions for wound care.
Watch for any problems, and call your doctor if your child has problems such as new or worse pain or bleeding.
Also call your doctor if you see signs of infection, such as increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness; red streaks leading from the area; pus draining from the area; or a fever.
And call your doctor if bright red blood soaks through the bandage.
Get emergency help right away if your child passes out or is short of breath.
You know your child best, so call your doctor if you have any questions.
If you're a little nervous right now, that's okay.
Recovery and healing take time.
But you and your child can get through this together.
