What to Expect from Melanocyte Transplant for Vitiligo

The clinician first assesses whether your vitiligo is stable and whether the patch is suitable for cell-based repigmentation. A small sample of normally pigmented skin is taken, and pigment-producing cells are prepared for transfer. The recipient patch is gently prepared so the cells can be placed on the treatment area.

Both the donor and recipient sites can be tender, red, crusted, or covered with a dressing while they heal. Colour usually develops gradually rather than immediately, and the final match can vary by body site, patch size, skin tone, and the activity of vitiligo. Additional treatment may be discussed if repigmentation is incomplete.

Keep dressings in place for the period your team gives you and avoid picking at crusts. Clean the sites only as instructed, protect healing skin from friction and unplanned sun exposure, and use prescribed medicines or light treatment exactly as directed. Attend scheduled checks so the team can assess cell take and healing.

Tell the clinician about medicines that affect bleeding, a history of poor wound healing, active skin infection, or new vitiligo patches. Do not apply cosmetics or household creams to an open recipient site unless approved.

Contact the treating team if pain, redness, warmth, discharge, or swelling is increasing rather than settling, or if a dressing becomes soaked or displaced. Seek urgent care for fever with a worsening wound, facial swelling, breathing difficulty, or severe bleeding.

Ask whether your vitiligo is stable enough for transplantation, where the donor skin will be taken, how each site will be dressed, and whether light treatment is part of recovery. Discuss likely colour matching, activity restrictions, and what happens if the patch repigments unevenly.