Grafting
hope
Page 4
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a bacteria colony on top of a layer of animal collagen. The collagen
is soaked in a special mix of nutrients that allow the epithelium
to fully form, resulting in a piece of functional pseudo skin that
can feed off of its own nutrients until it merges with the body’s
blood flow. The result is a visibly perfect replica. This technique
is expected to move into clinical trials in 2005.
For now, Sheridan expects that Lisa will have to make due with silicon
grafts that only reduce scarring. Instead, she’ll work with
a therapist who will teach her exercises that will bend and stretch
the scar tissue while it is forming, so there will be enough elasticity
for her to move. She’s young enough that as she gets older
and her skin continues to grow, doctors will be able to cut areas
of scar tissue out of her skin. They’ll then stretch and sew
the loose ends back together, leaving a seam instead of a scar patch.
For the areas that will never be removed or grafted over, Lisa has
several options to help lessen the appearance of scarred tissue,
said Peter Lorenz, an associate professor of plastic surgery at
Stanford University. Dermabrasion uses a hand-held grinding tool
to sand off the top layer scar tissue, giving a smoother appearance
to rough scars. Laser resurfacing does the same thing by disintegrating
away the top portion of the scars. To flesh out any discolorations,
micropigmentation uses needles to deliver tiny amounts of pigment
into the skin, a process similar to tattooing. Lorenz is also currently
working with a regiment of steroids that, when injected, begins
a hormonal reaction that melts the collagen inside large and lumpy
scars, not only flattening them out, but also making them more elastic.
Tonight, Lisa’s alive and sleeping with her two parents watching
her from the foot of her bed. The future will hold years of surgeries
and therapy. There will always be scars. But those scars won’t
stop her life. They won’t keep her from playing sports or
dating.
Sheridan is optimistic. “Now is when it all starts. What we
plan to do for her tonight will affect how she lives the rest of
her life,” he says. “But there’s no telling what
new improvement we might be able to use next year to help her out.”
He pauses. “As the future comes, her life will get better
and better.” r
photo credit: www.freeimages.co.uk |
