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Vitiligo treatment at Wimpole:
Our London based practice is one of the first centres in the UK to offer autologous melanocyte transplantation for the treatment of vitiligo.
About:
What better way to treat an area of skin defect than to transfer skin cells from another area of the body to the defective area? Cells from a patient’s own body are called autologous cells.
Vitiligo is caused by the loss of melanocytes, the skin cells which produce the skin colour melanin. As well as melanocytes, the skin is primarily made up of keratinocytes and a few other cells such as Langerhans cells and fibroblasts. Using a special enzyme and in sterile conditions, the cells from a small area of skin can be separated. They are then placed in a suspension which is applied to the area of skin that is defective.
Is the treatment for me?
The treatment works better on certain types of vitiligo than others. Determining which type of vitiligo will respond best to this treatment is a decision that must be made by an expert in this type of vitiligo treatment.
The treatment can be used on any area of the body including face, eyelids, hands, fingers, genitals and feet. Please note that people who do have health issues need not be excluded but special precautions may be required. All aspects of the procedure and your health will be discussed during your initial private consultation.
How does the autologous melanocyte transplantation work?
The procedure is performed under sterile conditions in a specific theatre. Under local anaesthetic, a small, very thin area of healthy skin is removed, usually from the hip area. Using a well researched and developed technique, the skin is processed to produce a pre-confluent mix of epidermal cells. The area to be treated is gently abraded, once again under local anaesthetic, and the skin cell mixture is applied. The skin cells immediately attach themselves and the healing and repigmentation process begins. There is no danger of scarring during this process and the cells can do no harm as they are autologous ie the patient’s own cells.
What happens post-procedure?
The treated site is protected by a dressing for one week. You will be given verbal and written post procedure instructions before leaving the Wimpole Aesthetic Centre. Dependant on the site that was treated, no further dressing is required and you will need to follow the instructions you were given by the clinic.
There is no bruising or swelling. Some patients may feel minor discomfort at the biopsy and treated site for a few days which can be treated with a mild painkiller if wished. Recovery is remarkably quick.
How effective is the treatment?
The treatment is very safe and usually 100% effective. Patients start to see repigmentation in about 2 to 4 months with full benefit in up to a year. This is because the transplanted melanocytes need to proliferate and begin producing melanin.
Most patients get the result they seek with a single treatment but for some patients with larger areas it may be necessary to have more than one treatment session. This aspect of care will be discussed at the initial consultation.
The cost of melanocyte transfer:
The cost of the vitiligo treatment will depend on the size of the area to be treated. Please discuss this during your consultation with your doctor.
Dr Sanjeev Mulekar
Dr Sanjeev Mulekar is the Vitiligo specialist at the Wimpole Aesthetic Centre, London. He pioneered the non-cultured melanocyte transplantation method for the treatment of vitiligo, in India and Saudi Arabia. He has trained dermatologists and surgeons in India to perform this treatment and has delivered lectures and performed workshops in Dubai, Libya, Yemen and Singapore.
Dr Mulekar has performed more than 1500 procedures to date in India and Saudi Arabia. He is actively involved in research and has published more than 10 research papers in reputed international journals such as Archives of Dermatology, Dermatologic Surgery, Clinical and Experimental Dermatology and International Journal of Dermatology. His latest paper has been accepted by the British Journal of Dermatology.
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