SHAH ALAM: Selangor FC (SFC) footballer Faisal Halim, the victim of an acid attack on Sunday, is set to undergo a 'skin allograft' procedure estimated to cost around RM30,000.
A skin allograft, which will involve using substitute skin for severely injured patients or those with limited donors, is considered a reliable procedure for the coverage of excised wounds.
SFC medical chief, Dr Muhammad Hazwan Khair, said the substitute skin would be imported from Belgium to treat Faisal's Stage 4 burns and accelerate his recovery.
"We expect the procedure to take place sometime this week. In terms of muscle, this will need rehabilitation," he said when met in Shah Alam today (May 8).
Skin allografts are widely regarded as the gold standard in treating wounds on patients who do not have enough skin to be grafted.
The substitute skin is obtained from live donors or even cadavers as a temporary measure. It involves transferring skin from a part of the body and grafting it onto the wounded area.
The Red Giants are sparing no expense to get Faisal the best possible treatment following the acid attack.
SFC chairman, Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, had declared his readiness to bear the full cost of Faisal's treatment and recovery even though the player already has insurance coverage.
This was shared by SFC board member Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar after visiting the player today (May 8).
"Faisal has insurance coverage but we want the best for him. We have been told that his treatment would incur a high cost.
"However, Tuanku (Tengku Amir Shah) has given his word that Faisal need not worry as both he and the palace will bear the cost if need be," he said.