1. What type of
patches can be treated ?
Only stable vitiligo patches - patches that have stopped spreading
can be treated.
2. How long does the treatment take
?
It takes around 2-3 hours for the procedure to be performed.
3. When does pigmentation occur
in patches ?
It takes anywhere between 3 - 6 weeks for pigmentation to start
after the procedure & around 3 months for the patch to cover
up depending upon size of patch.
4. Is the pigmentation on the patch
permanent ?
Yes, in the absence of activation of the disease,96% of patients
treated have not lost the pigmentation
5. Can lips and finger tips be treated?
Yes, though the overall success rate is 78%, in case of lips &
finger tips we may require more than one sitting obtain 100% pigmentation.
6. Cost - Factor ?
Melanocyte transplantation though an advanced procedure is also
a cost-effective treatement comparable to other modalities of
treatment for vitiligo.
7. Is it Hereditary ?
Only 30% of patients belong to this category. Auto-immunity probably
has a bigger role to play.
8. What are the limitations of the
procedure ?
We cannot treat patients who have more than 30% body surface affected
by vitiligo.
980. Is it a plastic surgery ?
It is not a plastic surgery, or cosmetic surgery, as the procedure
involves transplantation of Melanocytes, which is not done by
plastic surgeons and this procedure is now considered as a treatment
modality for vitiligo and thus it also cannot be considered as
cosmetic surgery.
10. Is any dietary restrictions
necessary during the course of treatment for Vitiligo ?
No at present, no one has conclusively shown any dietary factors
to be responsible for causing Vitiligo.
11.What is difference between Melanocyte
Transplantation and Melanocyte culture?
Melanocyte transplantation involves separating melanocyte from
small piece of skin and transplanting it immediately onto the
patches, though a smaller area can be treated it is absolutely
safe, but in melanocyte culture, the cells are separated from
a small piece of skin, and it is cultured in the laboratory (increase
in the no of cells) is achieved by using cultured medias and growth
factors.
