ABSTRACT
HISTORY The first skin graft was performed in India nearly 3000 years ago. The Hindus reconstructed nasal defects with fullthickness skin grafts. It was not until 1869 that Reverdin published his experience with small pinch grafts in the treatment of a variety of cutaneous defects. In 1870, Lawson used full-thickness skin grafts to repair defects of the eyelid, and von Esmarck later used full-thickness skin grafts in other areas of the body. Thiersch reported the first use of splitthickness skin grafts in 1886. Since that time, the technique has improved. The dermatologic surgeon should be able to place several different types of skin grafts in order to treat the patient with a cutaneous defect most satisfactorily.
