Cultured epithelial autografting on meshed skin graft scars: evaluation of skin elasticity.

Many patients with meshed skin graft scars complain of the scars' unsightly appearance and hardness. Since 1989 we have shaved away meshed skin graft scars and then resurfaced the area with autologous cultured epithelium in nine patients. This method improved the disfigurement of meshed skin graft scars, with minimal sacrifice of normal donor skin. Furthermore, autologous cultured epithelium grafted areas had high skin elasticity compared with meshed skin graft scars, as measured with a noninvasive suction device.