Vitiligo Treatment in India
About Vitiligo
Key Highlights
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Goal is to restore skin color (repigmentation) and stop the spread of white patches.Treatment plans are highly personalized based on the type, extent, and stability of vitiligo.Can significantly improve cosmetic appearance and self-esteem for patients.Non-surgical options like phototherapy are effective for many patients.Surgical techniques offer a solution for stable vitiligo that hasn't responded to other treatments.Ongoing management can help control the autoimmune process./ul
Who is this surgery for?
- Diagnosis of vitiligo with active spreading of depigmented patches.
- Stable vitiligo (no new patches or expansion for 6-12 months) for surgical consideration.
- Patches causing significant psychological distress or impacting quality of life.
- Vitiligo affecting cosmetically sensitive areas like the face, neck, or hands.
- Failure to respond adequately to first-line topical therapies.
- Patient motivation and realistic expectations for treatment outcomes.
How to prepare
- Comprehensive consultation with a dermatologist to confirm diagnosis and assess stability.
- Discussion of all treatment options, expected outcomes, and potential risks.
- For phototherapy: Skin examination and determination of initial light dose.
- For surgical procedures: Cessation of medications that increase bleeding risk (e.g., aspirin, NSAIDs) as advised.
- Avoiding sun exposure or tanning to the treatment area prior to procedures.
- For some surgeries, a test graft may be performed to assess healing and repigmentation potential.
Risks & possible complications
- For topical treatments: Skin thinning (atrophy), stretch marks, burning, or itching at the application site.
- For phototherapy: Skin redness (erythema), burning, blistering, dryness, and potential long-term risk of premature skin aging or skin cancer (managed with protocols).
- For surgical procedures: Infection, scarring, graft failure, lack of repigmentation, or cobblestoning of the skin.
- Possible repigmentation mismatch (color difference from surrounding skin).
- Koebner phenomenon: New vitiligo patches developing at sites of skin injury.
- Recurrence of depigmentation over time.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Post-phototherapy: Moisturize skin, protect from sun exposure, and report any severe blistering.
- Post-surgery: Keep the graft site clean, dry, and immobilized as per doctor's instructions for 1-2 weeks.
- Avoid strenuous activity that might disrupt the graft site.
- Attend all follow-up appointments to monitor healing and repigmentation progress.
- Repigmentation from treatments like phototherapy or surgery can take several months to become fully visible.
- Sun protection with broad-spectrum sunscreen is crucial on both treated and untreated skin to prevent burns and disease activity.
- Long-term maintenance therapy may be recommended to sustain results.
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Typical hospital stay:
Usually outpatient (0 days)
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Expected recovery time:
Varies by treatment: Topical/Phototherapy (ongoing), Surgery (1-2 weeks for initial healing, months for full repigmentation)
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering vitiligo in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Popular choices for vitiligo in India include Manipal Hospital Jaipur, known for experienced specialists and advanced surgical infrastructure.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform vitiligo. MediFyr helps you compare dermatologists and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for vitiligo compare across other countries where we have data.
| Country | Estimated cost range | Typical stay | Recovery time | View details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | USD 55 – USD 2,753 | Usually outpatient (0 days) | ~ Varies by treatment: Topical/Phototherapy (ongoing), Surgery (1-2 weeks for initial healing, months for full repigmentation) | Know More |
| Turkey | USD 410 – USD 20,489 | Usually outpatient (0 days) | ~ Varies by treatment: Topical/Phototherapy (ongoing), Surgery (1-2 weeks for initial healing, months for full repigmentation) | Know More |
Top hospitals for Vitiligo in India
These partner hospitals in India have dedicated dermatology teams and experience managing patients undergoing vitiligo.
Jaipur, India
55 DoctorsAnanya Roy, a 28-year-old software engineer...
Ananya Roy, a 28-year-old software engineer from Kolkata, first noticed a small, pale patch on her cheek three years ago after a stressful project deadline. Over time, more milky-white, symmetrical patches appeared on her hands, elbows, and around her mouth. The depigmentation was gradual but relentless, making her increasingly self-conscious. Her dermatologist, Dr. Mehta, explained it was non-segmental vitiligo, likely autoimmune, and recommended a course of narrowband UVB phototherapy combined with topical tacrolimus ointment. Ananya underwent twice-weekly sessions for six months. The treatment was time-consuming but painless. After four months, she began to see faint freckles of repigmentation, which slowly spread and coalesced. While not 100% complete, the patches on her face and hands are now 80% repigmented and much less noticeable. Emotionally, Ananya journeyed from shock and grief over the change in her appearance to anxiety about social stigma. The slow but visible results restored her confidence. She now sees her skin as a story of resilience and actively participates in a vitiligo support group.
Dermatologists for Vitiligo
Explore experienced dermatologists who regularly perform vitiligo and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.
- 8 Years Experience
- Dermatologist
Manipal Hospitals Broadway, Kolkata
- 9 Years Experience
- Dermatologist
Manipal Hospital Millers Road, Bangalore
- 16 Years Experience
- Dermatologist
Manipal Hospital Dhakuria, Kolkata
- 24 Years Experience
- Dermatologist
Manipal Hospital Dhakuria, Kolkata
- 10 Years Experience
- Dermatologist
- Years Experience
- Dermatologist
- 18 Years Experience
- Dermatologist
Manipal Hospital Salt Lake, Kolkata
- 13 Years Experience
- Dermatologist
Manipal Hospital Dhakuria, Kolkata
- 19 Years Experience
- Dermatologist
Manipal Hospital Millers Road, Bangalore
- 3 Years Experience
- Dermatologist
Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneshwar
- 13 Years Experience
- Dermatologist
Manipal Hospital Dhakuria, Kolkata
- 10 Years Experience
- Dermatologist
Manipal Hospital Jaipur, Jaipur
- 40 Years Experience
- Dermatologist
- 20 Years Experience
- Dermatologist
Manipal Hospital Malleshwaram, Bangalore
- 15 Years Experience
- Dermatologist
Manipal Hospital Mukundapur, Kolkata
- 9 Years Experience
- Dermatologist
Manipal Hospital Malleshwaram, Bangalore
- 8 Years Experience
- Dermatologist
Manipal Hospital Malleshwaram, Bangalore