VITILIGO TREATMENTS
Punch Grafting for Vitiligo in Pune
For selected stable vitiligo patches that have not responded adequately to medical or light-based treatment, punch grafting may offer a surgical repigmentation option. At Averah, suitability is assessed carefully before any procedure is planned.
1:1
Surgical
Consultation
Stable
Vitiligo
Selection
3-Step
Graft
Planning
04
Progress
Reviews
01
What it is
Punch grafting, also called miniature punch grafting, is a surgical technique used for selected stable vitiligo. Small pieces of normally pigmented skin are removed from a donor area and placed into prepared sites within the depigmented skin.
The transplanted skin carries pigment-producing cells into the treated area, with the aim of encouraging pigmentation to spread around the graft sites over time. Surgical vitiligo treatments are generally considered only when disease stability has been established.
02
When can punch grafting be considered?
Vitiligo surgery is generally considered for stable disease, particularly when selected patches have not responded sufficiently to non-surgical treatment.
The procedure may be considered when existing patches have remained clinically stable without ongoing spread.
Small or clearly defined patches may be easier to treat using miniature tissue grafts.
Selected stable segmental vitiligo can be considered for surgical treatment after dermatologist evaluation.
Surgery may be considered when suitable patches have shown limited response to medical or light-based treatments.
Healthy normally pigmented skin is required to provide the small grafts used during the procedure.
Outcome can vary according to the body site, so patch location is an important part of surgical planning.
WHO MAY NEED FURTHER ASSESSMENT
Punch grafting is not suitable for every person with vitiligo.
New patches are still appearing
Existing patches have recently increased in size
There is a tendency to develop raised or keloid scars
The treatment area may be unsuitable for grafting
Vitiligo stability has not yet been clearly established
03
What to expect
Vitiligo & donor-site assessment
The stability, size and location of the vitiligo patch are reviewed, and an appropriate area of normally pigmented donor skin is selected.
Miniature graft placement
Tiny pieces of pigmented skin are taken using a punch and transferred into matching prepared sites within the vitiligo area. The procedure is typically performed under local anaesthesia in an outpatient setting.
Healing & pigmentation monitoring
Both donor and treated areas are reviewed during follow-up while graft healing and the development of pigmentation are monitored.
04
Physician note
Punch grafting is not a treatment for actively spreading vitiligo. Stability and careful patient selection are central to surgical planning.
The procedure aims to introduce normally pigmented tissue into selected vitiligo patches, but pigmentation response and cosmetic outcome can vary between patients and body areas.
Dr. Nihal Hussein
Aesthetic & Functional Medicine · DHA-licensed
05
Why Averah
Stability-Focused Assessment
Vitiligo activity is carefully reviewed before surgical treatment is considered.
Precise Treatment Mapping
Patch shape, graft placement and donor skin are planned before the procedure.
Personalised Graft Planning
The number and placement of grafts are adapted to the individual treatment area.
Healing & Pigment Monitoring
Donor-site healing and pigmentation changes are reviewed during follow-up.
06
Questions
Punch grafting is a surgical technique in which small pieces of normally pigmented skin are transferred into selected vitiligo patches to support repigmentation.
Generally, no. Vitiligo surgery is intended for stable disease rather than actively spreading vitiligo.
Small grafts are taken from normally pigmented skin. DermNet describes donor sites such as the thigh or buttock, although the actual site is selected individually.
No. Punch grafting transfers tiny pieces of pigmented skin, while melanocyte cell transplantation separates pigment-containing cells from donor tissue before placing them onto the recipient area.
No. The grafts need to heal and pigmentation develops gradually around the treated areas. Results vary depending on the patient, treatment site and vitiligo characteristics.
Vitiligo grafting procedures are generally performed using local anaesthesia in an outpatient setting.
Possible complications include graft loss, infection, colour mismatch, hyperpigmentation, peripheral depigmentation, scarring and a cobblestone appearance at the treated area.
Punch grafting is often better suited to selected smaller areas. Larger treatment areas may require repeated procedures or another surgical technique depending on the case.
No procedure can guarantee a permanent cure. Surgery aims to restore pigment in treated areas, but vitiligo can remain unpredictable and pigmentation results vary.
- BOOKING
Assess Your Suitability for Punch Grafting
A detailed consultation to assess vitiligo stability, patch location, donor skin and whether surgical repigmentation is appropriate.
Consultation
20–30 min
Consultation
20–30 min
Best For
Post-acne scars & uneven texture
Downtime
Depends on treatment
Approach
Personalised & dermatologist-led
Best For
Selected stable vitiligo
Downtime
Procedure-dependent
Approach
Miniature skin grafting
Suitability, treatment area and expected recovery are determined individually after dermatologist assessment.
PERSONALISED VITILIGO SURGERY
Stability comes before surgery.
Punch grafting is not selected simply because a vitiligo patch has been present for a long time. The dermatologist first needs to assess whether the disease is stable, whether the patch is suitable for grafting and whether the donor skin can be used appropriately.
At Averah, surgical planning focuses on your disease stability, patch location, donor-site selection and expected pigmentation pattern before proceeding with treatment.
VITILIGO CARE
Is your vitiligo stable but still visibly persistent?
Start with a dermatologist-led assessment to understand whether Punch Grafting may be suitable for your vitiligo.