CPT® Code 15201

Add-On Code

Full thickness graft, free, including direct closure of donor site, trunk; each additional 20 sq cm, or part thereof (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

A full-thickness free skin graft is a surgical procedure in which a section of skin that includes all layers—epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue—is removed from one area of the body (the donor site) and transplanted to another area (the recipient site) to close a wound or skin defect. This type of graft is particularly useful for larger defects, as it provides a robust and durable coverage that promotes healing and minimizes complications. The donor site is carefully selected based on the characteristics of the recipient site, ensuring that factors such as thickness, texture, pigmentation, and hair presence are matched as closely as possible to achieve optimal cosmetic and functional results. During the procedure, the surgeon outlines the area of skin to be harvested, slightly enlarging it to accommodate for skin contracture that may occur post-surgery. Local anesthesia, often combined with epinephrine to reduce bleeding, is administered to the donor site. The graft is then excised using a scalpel, with careful attention to separate the graft from the underlying subcutaneous fat. After the graft is harvested, the donor site is closed with sutures, and any excess fat is removed to ensure a clean closure. The harvested graft is then placed over the defect at the recipient site and secured in place with sutures. A layered dressing is applied to protect the graft and promote healing, which typically includes a nonadherent layer, a bulky gauze layer, a compression layer, and an anti-shear layer to minimize movement and friction. This procedure is coded with CPT® Code 15201 when reporting each additional 20 square centimeters or part thereof, in conjunction with the primary procedure code 15200, which covers the initial 20 square centimeters of grafting on the trunk.