Split-thickness graft

A split-thickness skin graft involves removing the top layers of skin—both the outer (epidermis) and part of the inner (dermis)—from a healthy area of the body, usually the thigh or buttocks. This layer is then transplanted to cover a wound or burn that lacks healthy skin. The donor site can often heal on its own because some skin remains. This procedure helps restore skin coverage, promote healing, and reduce infection risk, and is common in treating large burns or wounds where full skin grafts are unnecessary.