Vitiligo

What is Melanocyte Transplantation?

For stable vitiligo unresponsive to medical therapy, autologous melanocyte transplantation transfers pigment-producing cells from healthy skin to depigmented areas. Suction blister grafting and non-cultured epidermal cell suspension (NCECS) techniques achieve excellent repigmentation.

Why China?

• Cost: $1,500-$3,500 (small areas) to $5,000-$12,000 (extensive) vs. $5,000-$30,000 in the US
• NCECS expertise: Cultured suspension protocol available at top dermatology centers
• High volume: Huashan Dermatology and PKU First treat thousands of vitiligo patients/year
• Combined approach: Topical + phototherapy + surgical integrated treatment plan

Who is a candidate?

• Stable vitiligo (no progression × 6-12 months)
• Failed topical and phototherapy treatment
• Localized vitiligo (segmental or focal)
• Cosmetically distressing depigmentation in visible areas
• Realistic expectations re: color matching

Outcomes

Repigmentation ≥75%: 65-80% of treated patches. Best outcomes: face, neck, trunk. Variable response: hands, feet, joint surfaces. Color matching: typically excellent at 6-12 months. Adjunctive phototherapy enhances results.