Melanocyte transplantation – a variation of the micrografting technique

Vitiligo is an acquired pigmentation disorder characterized by the development of well-defined achromic macules in the skin. It is deemed stable when no new lesion emerges or when pre-existing lesions do not undergo changes for at least one year. In these cases, surgical treatment is an important therapeutic option. Punch micrografting is the most commonly performed melanocyte transplantation technique, resulting in excellent repigmentation. The authors describe a variation of this technique using even smaller and finer grafts (consisting of epidermis and thin dermis), in order to achieve aesthetical outcomes that are better than those obtained with the traditional technique, especially when treating areas with significant aesthetic impairment.

Keywords: Melanocytes; Transplantation; Vitiligo