Service
Skin Substitutes & Skin Grafts Wound care in Plano, TX
Some chronic wounds stop shrinking even with good dressings, infection control, and pressure relief. For those wounds, a skin substitute or skin graft can help cover the wound and support new tissue growth. A skin graft uses a thin layer of the patient's own skin. A skin substitute is a manufactured or donor-derived material placed on the wound to act as a scaffold for healing.
How We Treat It
A care plan built around skin substitutes & skin grafts
Skin substitutes and grafts only work on a well-prepared wound, so Dr. Rizvi first makes sure the wound is clean, free of active infection, has adequate blood flow, and is offloaded or compressed as needed. Candidates are usually diabetic foot ulcers or venous leg ulcers that have not improved enough after several weeks of standard care. The choice between a graft and a substitute depends on the wound's size, depth, and location and on your health. Applications are made in the clinic, the wound is protected with a secured dressing, and progress is measured at follow-up visits. The approach follows Wound Healing Society and SVS/AVF guidance on advanced therapies for chronic ulcers.
Why Patients Choose Dr. Rizvi
What's in the Plan
- Wound bed preparation before any skin substitute or graft
- Candidacy based on how the wound has responded to standard care
- In-clinic application with a protective dressing
- Offloading or compression continued so the application can take
- Measured follow-up to decide whether more applications are needed
- Referral coordination when a surgical skin graft is the better option
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a skin graft and a skin substitute?
A skin graft moves a thin layer of your own healthy skin onto the wound. A skin substitute is a material, often derived from donor or animal tissue or made in a lab, that covers the wound and helps your body build new tissue. Our skin graft vs skin substitute guide covers the differences in detail.
Am I a candidate for a skin substitute?
Candidates usually have a chronic wound, such as a diabetic foot ulcer or venous leg ulcer, that has not improved enough after several weeks of standard care, with good blood flow and no active infection. Dr. Rizvi decides after examining the wound and reviewing how it has responded so far.
Is the application painful?
Applying a skin substitute is usually a quick in-office step done after the wound is cleaned, and most patients tolerate it well. A skin graft taken from your own skin involves a donor site that also needs to heal, which is why the approach is chosen case by case.
Does insurance cover skin substitutes?
Coverage depends on the product, your diagnosis, and your plan, and Medicare rules for skin substitutes change from time to time. Call the office and the team will check your coverage before treatment.
Ready to talk about skin substitutes & skin grafts?
Same- or next-day appointments. Telemedicine available. Most insurance accepted — call to verify your plan.