Skin Substitutes & Cellular Grafts

Bioengineered skin substitutes and amniotic membrane grafts for chronic wounds. Medicare Part B covered regenerative solutions.

What Are Skin Substitutes?

Skin substitutes are advanced cellular and tissue-based products (CTPs) that replace or supplement the body's own healing mechanisms. These bioengineered materials contain living cells, growth factors, extracellular matrix proteins, and collagen that actively promote wound closure. For wounds that have failed standard treatment for 30+ days, skin substitutes offer a powerful regenerative solution with 95% success rates.

Amniotic Membrane Grafts

The most commonly used skin substitute, derived from donated human placental tissue after cesarean births. Amniotic membranes are rich in growth factors, collagen, native stem cells, and anti-inflammatory proteins. Products like EpiFix, AmnioExcel, and Grafix contain all the biological signals needed to jumpstart healing. FDA-regulated for safety. 95% achieve full wound closure in 6-8 weeks.

Bioengineered Living Skin

Products like Apligraf and Dermagraft contain living human fibroblasts and keratinocytes grown in laboratories. These living cells secrete growth factors that stimulate healing. Best for venous leg ulcers and diabetic foot ulcers resistant to other treatments.

What to Expect During Treatment

Preparation: Wound is debrided to create a clean, bleeding wound bed essential for graft integration. Application: Skin substitute cut to wound size and placed on wound bed. Covered with dressing. Takes 30-45 minutes. Follow-up: Dressing changes weekly. Most grafts incorporate within 7-14 days. Additional applications may be needed for large wounds.

Medicare Part B Coverage

Medicare covers cellular and tissue-based products for chronic wounds that haven't healed after 30 days of standard treatment. Medicare pays 80% after deductible, you pay 20% (unless covered by Medigap). Prior authorization required—Healix360 handles all paperwork.

Frequently Asked Questions

Regenerative Treatment

Skin Substitutes & Cellular Grafts

Bioengineered skin substitutes and amniotic membrane grafts for chronic wounds that won't heal with standard care. FDA-regulated, Medicare Part B covered regenerative solutions.

What Are Skin Substitutes?

Skin substitutes are advanced cellular and tissue-based products (CTPs) that replace or supplement the body's own healing mechanisms. These bioengineered materials contain living cells, growth factors, extracellular matrix proteins, and collagen that actively promote wound closure. For wounds that have failed standard treatment for 30+ days, skin substitutes offer a powerful regenerative solution with 95% success rates in achieving full closure within 6-8 weeks.

Types of Skin Substitutes

Amniotic Membrane Grafts

The most commonly used skin substitute, derived from donated human placental tissue after cesarean births. Amniotic membranes are rich in growth factors, collagen, native stem cells, and anti-inflammatory proteins. Products like EpiFix, AmnioExcel, and Grafix contain no living cells but retain all the biological signals needed to jumpstart healing. FDA-regulated for safety and sterility.

95% achieve full wound closure in 6-8 weeks

Best for: Diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, pressure ulcers, burns

Bioengineered Living Skin

Products like Apligraf and Dermagraft contain living human fibroblasts and keratinocytes (skin cells) grown in laboratories. These living cells secrete growth factors and cytokines that stimulate the patient's own healing response. Unlike amniotic membranes, these require refrigeration and have shorter shelf lives.

Best for: Venous leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers resistant to other treatments

Acellular Dermal Matrices

Created from donated human or animal tissue with all cells removed, leaving only the collagen scaffold and extracellular matrix. Products like AlloDerm and Integra provide a framework for the patient's own cells to grow into, essentially rebuilding dermis (deep skin layer) from within.

Best for: Deep ulcers with tissue loss, burn reconstruction, surgical wounds

What to Expect During Treatment

1

Preparation

Wound is debrided to remove all dead tissue and create a clean, bleeding wound bed. This is essential for graft integration.

2

Application

Skin substitute cut to wound size and placed directly on wound bed. Covered with non-adherent dressing and secured. Takes 30-45 minutes.

3

Follow-up

Dressing changes weekly to monitor integration. Most grafts incorporate within 7-14 days. Additional applications may be needed for large wounds.

Medicare Part B Coverage for Skin Substitutes

Medicare covers cellular and tissue-based products for chronic wounds that haven't healed after 30 days of standard treatment. Coverage requires thorough documentation of failed conventional care, wound measurements, and medical necessity. Medicare pays 80% after deductible, you pay 20% (unless covered by Medigap).

Prior Authorization Required

Medicare requires approval before application. Healix360 handles all authorization paperwork.

Multiple Applications Covered

Medicare covers 2-4 applications per wound depending on size and healing progress.

Frequently Asked Questions

Could Your Wound Benefit from Regenerative Treatment?

If your wound hasn't healed after 30 days of standard care, you may qualify for skin substitutes covered by Medicare Part B.

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