Skin Donation :: Donate Skin & Save Life ::
Our Vision
To improve the lives of people affected by burns
Our Mission
• Funding and stimulating innovative Burns Research
• Providing education for the prevention of Burns in schools.
• Providing easy access to good quality Healthcare for burn victims
• Increasing public awareness and Commitment to prevention of Burns.
To increase awareness of Skin donation to saves lives.
agree to PLEDGE my SKIN, by Donating my SKIN after my Death.
I grant permission for the recovery of my SKIN for purposes of Transplantation and Research.
Are skin transplants successful?
Yes. Transplantation has become a very successful and accepted treatment. Success rates vary depending on the type of transplant
How do I become skin donor?
Your decision to become skin donor is a very private and personal one. To help you with your decision, there are three critical steps to follow:
• Learning: Learn as much as you can about organ and skin donation. Think about whether you want to donate your skin.
• Deciding: The decision to donate your skin is a very personal one. The only “right” choice is the one that you and your family are comfortable with. You may change your mind at anytime.
• Taking Action: Steps to becoming a cadaveric donor
If you decide you want to donate your skin upon your death, it is important that you register your decision on a donor registry, and that you ask your family to support your decision. In the event of your death, your next of kin will be asked to give your consent to the donation.
Why do we need skin donation?
Skin is needed in major burns and other injuries where it helps to prevent infections, decreases pain and provides mechanical protection and thus helps faster healing and save life.
Who can donate skin after death?
Age above 18 years, not having transmissible diseases like hepatitis or HIV, skin cancer or skin diseases.
Are there any complications?
No there are no complications. The inner organs are not exposed. There is no bleeding from the area of where the skin has been harvested.
Will my decision to become a skin donor affect the quality of my medical care?
No. Organ and tissue recovery happens only after every effort has been made to save your life, and death has been legally declared. Only then will the skin be harvested.
Will donation disfigure my body?
No.
What happens to my donated Skin?
A system is put in place to use the skin that is donated. Factors such as race, gender, age, income and celebrity status are NOT factors which determines who receives that skin. Furthermore, the buying and selling of organs, tissues and eyes is illegal.
Why is donated skin important?
Donated skin can be used as a temporary covering for severely burned patients awaiting grafting procedures. The donated skin functions as the burnt patient’s own skin for a short time, decreasing the risk of infection and reducing pain. In many cases, the availability of donated skin can help save the lives of burn victims.
Advances in medicine and tissue preservation now make it possible to use the skin on burn victims, as a temporary skin covering. The donated dermal grafts can now be used to replace lost dermis and can significantly reduce scarring, restore mobility and minimize the use of the patient’s own skin. Dermal grafts are also used to fill soft tissue defects as a result of cancer or trauma, to restore bladder control in the treatment of incontinence, in periodontal surgery to correct gingival defects and to facilitate abdominal wall repair for hernias or other injuries.
How is donated skin recovered?
Skin is obtained by a surgical procedure. Skin grafts are typically recovered from the back, abdomen and legs and may vary in thickness from .005” to .035”. In most instances, the procedure takes only 45 minutes.
How is donated skin prepared for transplantation?
Donated skin is prepared for transplantation in one of two ways. The tissue can be prepared by traditional methods of cell preservation which include maintaining cell viability via tissue culture techniques or cryopreservation. More recently, donated skin grafts can be preserved by utilizing advanced technologies to remove the cellular components of the grafts while maintaining the biochemical and structural characteristics. As a result, these donated skin grafts can be transplanted successfully without rejection. This technology greatly expands the clinical applications of the donated skin.
Did you know?
There are more than an estimated 90,000 people currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant.
How do I get more information regarding tissue donation?
You can get more information regarding skin donation from National Burns Centre, Airoli. You can either email them on indianburnsrs@vsnl.net or can call +91-22-27796660/1/2/3/4.
