Surgery is considered for stable vitiligo, which usually means no new white patches and no enlargement of existing patches for about a year, in areas that have not responded well to medicines and phototherapy. Your dermatologist will assess stability before recommending it.

We perform mini punch grafting (MPG), suction blister epidermal grafting (SBEG) and non-cultured epidermal cell suspension (NCES, also called melanocyte transfer). The technique is chosen according to the size and site of the patch.

The procedures are done under local anaesthesia, so you remain awake but the area is numb. They are day-care procedures and admission is usually not needed.

Colour returns gradually. Small spots of pigment may appear within a few weeks and continue to spread over the following months. Phototherapy is often advised after surgery to help the new pigment spread evenly.

Only a small area of normal skin, usually from the thigh, is used. Suction blister grafting generally heals without a noticeable scar, while punch grafting may leave tiny marks. Your doctor will explain what to expect for the chosen method.

The transplanted pigment is usually long-lasting in stable vitiligo. However, vitiligo is an ongoing condition, and if it becomes active again new patches can appear, so regular follow-up is advised.