Suction blister grafting for stable vitiligo using pulsed erbium:YAG laser ablation for recipient site.

BACKGROUND: Suction blister grafting was performed via a modified simple technique using a 20-mL syringe to create the donor graft and pulsed erbium:YAG laser ablation of the recipient site.

METHODS: Two patients with stable vitiligo and one with postinflammatory depigmentation were studied.

RESULTS: The grafts took well in all three patients and pigmentation was retained at 20 weeks. No complications occurred.

CONCLUSIONS: The erbium:YAG laser is an ideal tool for creating graft recipient sites, given its precision in terms of width and depth of ablation. A 20-mL syringe can be used to create a blister of adequate size.