Beyond Repigmentation—A Prospective Study of Patients With Stable Vitiligo Treated With Suction Blister Epidermal Grafting Plus Phototherapy

BACKGROUND Vitiligo is a common skin disorder that greatly impacts patients' appearance. The effects of grafting surgery combined with phototherapy on repigmentation and quality of life in patients with vitiligo remain underexplored. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of suction blister epidermal grafting (SBEG) combined with phototherapy on repigmentation and quality of life in patients with stable vitiligo. MATERIALS AND METHODS This prospective study included 42 skin lesions from 23 patients with stable vitiligo who underwent SBEG followed by postoperative phototherapy. Repigmentation rate, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), and Vitiligo-specific Quality-of-life Instrument (VitiQoL) scores were assessed at 3 and 6 months postoperation. RESULTS The mean repigmentation rates at 3 and 6 months were 63.35% (±4.90) and 70.23% (±4.27), respectively. Lesions covered with terminal hair exhibited lower repigmentation rates compared to those without. Quality of life improved significantly, with DLQI scores decreasing from 7.37 to 4.06 at 6 months postsurgery ( p = .0213). No significant correlation was found between DLQI or VitiQoL improvement rates and repigmentation rates. CONCLUSION SBEG combined with postoperative phototherapy effectively promotes repigmentation in stable vitiligo, particularly in areas without terminal hair. The procedure also enhances patient quality of life, although the relationship between repigmentation and quality of life requires further investigation.