Which statement is incorrect regarding connective tissue graft healing in a healthy individual?

The statement indicating that functional integration occurs by the 20th post-operative day is incorrect. In the context of connective tissue graft healing, functional integration refers to the successful incorporation and adaptation of the graft into the surrounding tissues. Typically, this process takes longer than 20 days. While there are various phases of healing that occur within this timeframe, complete functional integration generally requires a more extended period due to factors such as cellular reorganization, vascularization, and the establishment of connection to the host tissues.

In contrast, the other statements accurately describe the healing process. Revascularization of the graft typically begins around the second or third post-operative day, which is when the graft starts to receive blood supply from the surrounding tissue, critical for healing. The observation that the connective tissue can become edematous or disorganized before new tissue forms reflects the initial inflammatory response and subsequent regeneration processes. Also, the presence of a thin layer of epithelium by day four is consistent with the rapid epithelial migration that characterizes the early stages of healing after a graft procedure.