For Stable, Treatment-Resistant Patches

Vitiligo Surgery in Bangalore – Punch Grafting & Melanocyte Transplant in HRBR Layout

When stable vitiligo patches don't respond to creams, ointments or phototherapy, surgical repigmentation can restore natural skin tone. At PRALASH, our dermatologist confirms patch stability first, then performs punch grafting or melanocyte transplantation to help patches regain colour that blends with the surrounding skin.

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6–12Months Stability Needed
LocalAnaesthesia, Day-Care
StableVitiligo Patches Only
Before and after results of Vitiligo Surgery in Bangalore showing repigmentation of a stable vitiligo patch at PRALASH Clinic.
Dermatologist Performed Stability Assessed First
Overview

What is Vitiligo Surgery?

Vitiligo is a condition where skin loses its natural colour in patches because the pigment-producing cells — melanocytes — stop functioning or are destroyed in that area. Most patients are first treated with topical medication, oral therapy or phototherapy (NB-UVB).

Vitiligo surgery is considered when a patch has been stable for a meaningful period and hasn't responded to these medical options. It involves transplanting healthy, pigment-producing cells from an unaffected part of your body into the depigmented patch, so the area can regrow its natural colour.

Surgery treats the patch in front of us — it works best on stable, localized vitiligo. Our dermatologist always confirms stability and rules out active disease before recommending any procedure.
Process

How Vitiligo Surgery Works

Every case starts with confirming stability — the single biggest factor in whether surgery will succeed.

1
Stability Assessment & Consultation

We examine your patches, review how long they've been unchanged, and may recommend a small test graft to confirm the area will respond before planning full surgery.

2
Donor Site Preparation

Healthy, pigmented skin is selected from a donor area — commonly the thigh or buttock — where scarring will be minimal and easily hidden.

3
Cell / Graft Harvesting

Depending on the technique, either tiny skin grafts or a melanocyte cell suspension is prepared from the donor tissue under sterile conditions.

4
Transplantation

The donor cells or grafts are carefully placed onto the prepared vitiligo patch and secured with a protective dressing.

5
Healing & Follow-Up

The area is kept protected while new pigment cells settle in. Follow-up phototherapy is often advised to help the transplanted melanocytes spread and blend with surrounding skin.

Treatment Options

Vitiligo Surgery Techniques

Punch Grafting

Tiny full-thickness skin grafts are lifted from the donor area and placed into small punch-sized holes in the vitiligo patch — well suited to smaller, stubborn patches.

Suction Blister Epidermal Grafting

Blisters are raised on donor skin and their pigment-rich roof is transferred onto the prepared patch, leaving minimal donor-site marking.

Melanocyte Cell Suspension (NCES / MKTP)

Cells from a small donor sample are processed into a suspension and spread across the patch — able to cover larger areas from a small donor site with a more even, blended tone.

Split-Thickness Skin Grafting

A thin sheet of donor skin is grafted over larger or resistant patches, typically reserved for more extensive stable vitiligo.

Post-Surgical Phototherapy

NB-UVB sessions after surgery help stimulate the transplanted melanocytes and encourage even pigment spread across the treated area.

Benefits

Benefits of Vitiligo Surgery

For the right candidate, vitiligo surgery offers:

Repigmentation of patches that haven't responded to creams or light therapy

Uses your own skin cells — no foreign material or implants

A one-time procedure rather than months of ongoing topical treatment

Can be combined with phototherapy for a more even colour match

Performed under local anaesthesia as a day-care procedure

Renewed confidence with natural-looking results in stable cases

Who Is It For?

Who is it Suitable For?

Vitiligo surgery is generally considered for:

  • Stable vitiligo — no new patches or spreading for 6–12 months
  • Segmental vitiligo, which typically responds best to surgical repigmentation
  • Localized patches that haven't improved with medical treatment or phototherapy
  • Adults with realistic expectations about gradual colour blending
Vitiligo surgery isn't the right first step for everyone. It isn't recommended for active, spreading vitiligo or in patients prone to keloid scarring — our dermatologist will confirm suitability at your consultation.
Pricing

Cost of Vitiligo Surgery in Bangalore

Cost depends on the technique used, patch size and number of areas treated.

Consultation & Assessment
₹800 – ₹1,000
Initial evaluation and stability check
Most Common
Punch Grafting
₹3,000 – ₹8,000 /session
Small to medium stubborn patches
Melanocyte Transplant (MKTP)
₹15,000 – ₹40,000+
Larger areas, priced by patch size
Why PRALASH?

Why Choose Our Clinic in Bangalore?

Vitiligo surgery only works when the diagnosis and stability assessment are right. At PRALASH, we don't rush into surgery — we confirm your vitiligo is stable, explain realistic outcomes, and choose the technique best suited to your patch size and location.

Call +91 99005 17699
Stability Confirmed First

We assess how long your patches have been unchanged before recommending any surgical option.

Your Own Skin Cells

No implants or foreign material — grafts come from your own donor skin.

Technique Matched to You

Punch grafting, SBEG or MKTP — chosen based on your patch size, site and skin type.

4.8★ Rated Clinic

Trusted by patients across HRBR Layout and North Bangalore.

Comparison

Vitiligo Surgery vs Continued Medical Therapy

Factor Medical Therapy Vitiligo Surgery
Best For Active or recently developed patches ✔ Stable, treatment-resistant patches
Timeframe Months of ongoing sessions or application Single procedure plus follow-up
Downtime None A few days at donor & graft sites
Predictability Variable response ✔ More predictable on confirmed-stable patches
Suitable When Vitiligo is still active ✔ Vitiligo has been stable 6–12+ months

Our dermatologist will recommend the right path for your specific patches after assessing stability.

Results

Results Timeline

2–4 Weeks

Donor and graft sites heal; the treated patch may look pink or patchy at first.

6–8 Weeks

Initial repigmentation becomes visible around the transplanted areas.

3–6 Months

Colour continues to spread and blend with surrounding skin, often aided by phototherapy.

Up to 12 Months

Final colour match settles — results are typically most stable and even by this point.

Safety

Safety & Side Effects

Vitiligo surgery is performed under sterile, clinically supervised conditions. Possible temporary effects:

Temporary Pinkness or Swelling — normal at both donor and graft sites for the first couple of weeks.
Uneven Colour Match Initially — repigmented skin often looks slightly different at first and blends further over following months.
Small Risk of Patch Spreading (Koebner Phenomenon) — a key reason we confirm your vitiligo is genuinely stable before surgery.
Every case is assessed individually. We talk you through realistic outcomes for your specific patches before you decide on surgery.
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Vitiligo surgery is a surgical repigmentation procedure for stable, treatment-resistant vitiligo patches. Healthy melanocytes (pigment-producing cells) are transferred from a donor area of your own skin to the depigmented patch using techniques such as punch grafting or melanocyte transplantation.

Surgery is generally considered only for stable vitiligo — patches that haven't spread or changed for at least 6–12 months and haven't responded adequately to medical treatment or phototherapy. Our dermatologist will assess stability before recommending any procedure.

It depends on the size and location of your patches. Small, stubborn patches often respond well to punch grafting, while the melanocyte-keratinocyte transplant procedure (MKTP) can cover larger areas from a small donor sample with a more even colour match.

In most stable cases, yes — the transplanted melanocytes gradually repigment the area to closely match surrounding skin. Some colour blending continues for several months, and controlled sun exposure or phototherapy afterward often improves the match further.

The procedure is done under local anaesthesia, so it isn't painful during the surgery itself. Mild soreness at the donor and treated sites is normal for a few days. Most patients resume routine activities within a few days, avoiding sun exposure and friction on the area as advised.

Surgery repigments the treated patch, but it doesn't cure the underlying condition — new patches can still appear elsewhere if vitiligo is still active. This is exactly why we confirm stability before surgery and may recommend follow-up phototherapy or medical management alongside.

Ready to Explore Vitiligo Surgery?

If stable vitiligo patches haven't responded to creams or light therapy, surgical repigmentation may be the next step. Looking for vitiligo surgery in Bangalore near HRBR Layout? Book a consultation with our dermatologist at PRALASH to check if you're a candidate.

Call +91 99005 17699 All Skin Treatments
HRBR Layout 1st Block, Kalyan Nagar, Bengaluru – 560043
Mon – Sat: 10 AM – 7 PM