Are you or a loved one facing recovery from a significant wound? Wound care biologics could be the answer to helping your body heal more effectively.
This approach uses natural materials derived from living organisms to enhance your body's healing process. But unless you’ve already experienced this treatment at Carl N. Williams, Jr. M.D. Hand and Plastic Surgery in Las Vegas, Nevada, you may be wondering what that really means and how it can help.
Here, our team breaks down the basics of wound care biologics and the benefits this treatment might offer you.
At its core, wound care biologics is an approach to wound care that uses natural, bio-based materials to encourage wound healing. These aren't your average treatments, because they’re derived from living organisms — this includes anything from human and animal tissues to microorganisms.
Whatever the organism used to create the biologic, the goal is the same: to encourage your body's natural healing processes to kick into high gear. By introducing new or more efficient healing factors, using wound care biologics helps your body’s natural healing be more effective.
These treatments may use components like collagen, growth factors, and skin substitutes to provide a scaffold for new tissue to grow and help wounds close more naturally and quickly. This therapy also offers additional benefits, including:
In addition, because your body heals faster and more effectively, patients with chronic wounds, such as a diabetic foot ulcer, can reduce their risk of loss of function, mobility, and even amputation when beginning treatment early.
The uses and applications of wound care biologics are highly personalized. Depending on the nature and severity of your wound, Dr. Williams determines the best biologic treatment.
Wound care biologics treatments range from applying topical solutions that contain growth factors to specialized wound dressings to using skin grafts made from bioengineered cells. During your consultation, we discuss your options and address any questions or concerns you may have.
Keep in mind that wound care biologics aren’t used for everyday scrapes or scratches. This treatment approach is reserved for more severe wounds that struggle to heal on their own, such as:
If your wound has been stubborn and slow to heal, talk to our team about wound care biologics. This therapy could be the solution your body needs to heal.
The exact nature of your treatment depends on the wound and the materials used to address it. However, it’s good to keep in mind that while wound care biologics can accelerate the healing process, this approach is not an instant fix.
In addition, your participation plays an important role in how well you respond to biologics. It’s important to follow your provider’s instructions and guidance on wound care.
You also want to work toward achieving or maintaining a healthy lifestyle to boost your recovery — biologics are a tool, but your body does the healing. And be sure to attend all scheduled follow-up appointments and reach out if you have questions or concerns along the way.
To learn more about wound care biologics and whether this treatment could play a role in your healing journey, reach out to the providers at Carl N. Williams, Jr. M.D. Hand and Plastic Surgery by scheduling an appointment online or over the phone today.
