Keloid treatment requires surgery removal or debulking, steroid injections and pressure
garments or earrings with weekly office visits over a 2 to 3 month period. Keloids are large sometimes dumbell shaped scars that grow out of the confines
of the original wound. They are most common in Afro Americans but occasionally are found in Hispanics and Asians. Keloids do not respond to silicone sheeting. Virtually
all keloids that are cut out will return if steroids and pressure are
not applied after surgery. In some cases radiation is used to prevent recurrence especially if the patient cannot return for weekly office visits or the body area involved is not amenable to the application of pressure by a garment, for example keloids on the neck. Hypertrophic scars are sometimes treated in the same fashion but are more amenable to laser treatments,
silastic sheeting and pressure garments.
Although the exact
skin condition prior to keloid formation cannot be reached vast improvement
is possible.
This patient had a keloid on each cheek after trauma to the skin. The keloids were surgically removed by surgeons twice in the past and recurred within 2 months. After keloid removal by Dr. Stone recurrence was prevented by scar injections, cordran tape and application of a pressure mask. The photos here were taken 1 1/2 years after excision. The after photos are taken without and with camouflage makeup.
Keloid surgery
can enhance your appearance and your self confidence. Realistic expectations
are important to be happy with any surgery. As each patient is an individual,
different results can be expected in each patient.
