Do You Need a Referral for Melanocyte Transplant?

Melanocyte transplant, also called cellular grafting for vitiligo, is a specialised procedure rather than a routine cosmetic appointment. The service may accept direct enquiries, or it may ask for a dermatologist's referral and records. Assessment usually considers the cause of lost pigment, whether patches are stable, the body areas involved, pigment response, scarring history, and treatments already tried. A clinician will also explain donor-site care and the time needed for colour to develop.

Ask the specialist service whether a referral, photographs, or previous dermatology notes are needed. Bring a treatment list and describe when patches began, whether new areas have appeared, and any inflammation, infection, or injury at the proposed donor or recipient sites. Ask how the diagnosis will be confirmed, what preparation is required, how areas are protected during healing, and when progress is reviewed.

Arrange medical review before a transplant consultation if pigment loss is rapidly spreading, painful, scaly, blistered, bleeding, or accompanied by eye or mouth symptoms. After the procedure, contact the team for increasing redness, warmth, pus, fever, wound separation, severe pain, or unexpected darkening or lightening. Breathing difficulty or widespread swelling requires emergency help.

Ask whether your diagnosis and pigment loss are suitable for grafting, which areas can be treated, how donor skin is selected, what healing involves, and what other options remain. Confirm the review schedule and whom to contact if either site heals unusually.