Know Dr. Holla

Dr. Anantha Prasad Holla P embarked on his academic journey at Mysore Medical College, where he completed his MBBS. He then pursued his post-graduation (MD) at the prestigious dermatology department of Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh (PGIMER). During his training, he developed a deep interest in vitiligo treatment and research, focusing primarily on vitiligosurgery (dermatosurgery) and mainly research in cell transplantation procedures. This interest led him to become a renowned vitiligo specialist, particularly mastering non-cultured epidermal cell suspension transplantation (NEST). With over 15 years of exclusive expertise in vitiligo treatment, Dr. Holla has become an internationally acclaimed vitiligo specialist and surgeon and pioneer in cell transplantation.

What sets Dr. Holla a league apart from others in the field is his “accumulated opportunities” due to the exposure he got in vitiligo surgery, vitiligo treatment and innovations from the beginning, rather than just experience, in cellular transplantation. He has made several groundbreaking modifications to cell transplantation techniques, including his innovative techniques such as modified NEST, non-cultured follicular suspension transplantation (FoST), combined follicular and epidermal suspension transplantation (FEST), and Artificial Reservoir Technique (ART). His procedures are not only effective but also safe, using recombinant protease instead of animal origin trypsin, avoiding foreign proteins/antigens and growth factors, and utilizing a cold and soft technique for higher cell yield. Although cold cell separation technique using trypsin reagent was innovated long back in 90s, Dr. Holla is mostly the lone vitiligo specialist using the modified cold cell separation using recombinant protease, which is safe for human treatment purpose, in the global arena.

Dr. Holla’s results-oriented approach is reflected in his successful completion of approximately 6000 procedures throughout his vitiligo treatment career of 15 odd years. He specializes in treating “difficult to treat” vitiligo patches and has performed thousands of procedures in challenging areas such as the lips, eyelids, acral regions (fingers, toes, hands, feet, palms, soles), belly button/umbilicus, ears, nipples, folds (underarm/axilla, inner thigh), genitals, and large vitiligo areas, as well as treatment modified vitiligo patches. His expertise in vitiligo surgery is evident through his publications in peer-reviewed international journals and his presentations and invited lectures at international conferences and seminars on innovations and modifications in non-cultured epidermal suspension transplantation.

Dr. Holla has been recognized for his achievements in vitiligo treatment through scholarships such as the “Rising Star” scholarship from the International League of Dermatology Societies, the International Society for Dermatology mentorship, and travel scholarships from the British Association of Dermatologists, ILDS, ISD, and Asian Society for Pigment Cell Research. His expertise has also earned him a visiting faculty position at the Department of Dermatology at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, USA. He is associated with Vitiligo Bond Inc, USA, and has conducted vitiligo awareness lectures for vitiligo sufferers.

With over 7500 satisfied patients, Dr. Holla’s rigid and strict compliance driven approach has proven successful in achieving satisfactory results for individuals suffering from chronic skin condition/disease like vitiligo.