How grafts are held in place

Surgical staples are used to secure the edges of a graft to healthy skin. The staples are put in and taken out with a tool that looks like a pliers. Once the edges have fused (healed together) and the graft is stable or "takes" (adheres or sticks), the doctor removes the staples. It usually takes about five days for the graft to become stable. During this time, the patient is immobilized and the grafted area is moved as little as possible. The five days of waiting and not moving is known as "the immobilization period."

Sometimes the doctor sutures (stitches) a graft in place with a needle and silk or nylon thread. When the graft is stable the stitches are removed.

Staples
Grafts can be held in place using staples. Staples are removed when the graft is secure, generally five days after a graft surgery.

Stitches or sutures
Grafts can be held in place using sutures or stitches. Here are two different kinds of stitches used.