Vitiligo Surgery

Vitiligo is a chronic dermatological state of confusion that causes depigmented macules on the skin. It appears as white patches superficially on the outer layer of the skin. Vitiligo is generally exposed particularly some sites of the body like elbows, knees, faces, hands and feet etc. Phototherapy is quite effective to treat vitiligo along with ointments and medicines but nowadays vitiligo surgery becomes very popular to complete re-pigmentation.

Aims of Vitiligo Surgery

To give the proper pigmentation by transferring melanocyte is the actual aim of vitiligo surgery. The new skin color should be matched cosmetically with the surrounding skin colors through this surgery. But the best result depends on patient’s condition. Needless to say, all kinds of vitiliginous skins don’t support surgery. Besides, these below mentioned factors are also responsible to achieve successful result.

• Age factor
• Stage of disease
• Way of Surgery
• Condition of donor
• Demand of patient
• Size of the patch
• Location of the patch

Categories of Vitiligo Surgery

In vitiligo surgery, recipient and donor these two sites are required. From donor’s normal skin the melanocytes are collected and grafted to the recipient’s affected area. The surgery is mainly categorized in two types.

• Tissue grafting
• Cellular grafting

Tissue Grafting:

In tissue grafting melanocyte rich tissues are grafted in surgical method. It is again categorized in three parts- MPG i.e miniature punch grafting, suction blister grafting and split thickness skin grafting.

Cellular Grafting:

Basically melanocyte cells are grafted in cellular grafting. It can be categorized in two suspensions. Autologous non cultured epidermal cell suspensions and cultured melanocyte suspensions.

However, vitiligo surgery is mainly done in stable condition. If it is in spreading condition, then it is suggested not to go for surgery. It may not be effective.