Keloid Scars
They can develop after surgery, after major skin trauma, or even after very minor skin damage like acne scars.
Please see our frequently asked questions for Keloid Scars.
FAQs
If you are prone to keloid scarring, it can be difficult to prevent keloid scars from developing. There are certain steps you can take to reduce your risk which includes;
- Avoid unnecessary skin trauma
- Keep wound sites clean and protected
- Minimise tension or stretch on a scar whilst it is healing
- Avoid piercings or tattoos
- Protect wounded skin from the sun
- Use silicone sheets or gel as soon as the wound has scabbed.
Keloid scars are not dangerous. They are benign lumps on the skin that are not contiguous either.
Keloid scars can however cause discomfort, pain and itching in the area affected. Depending on where they have formed they can also restrict movement of joints, cause skin infections, cause ingrown hairs and interfere with normal bodily functions.
Overall, Keloid scars will never completely disappear to leave skin with a normal texture but some mild keloid scars can gradually flatten, become less red, and soften over time.
Whilst keloid scar treatment can help manage keloid scars and reduce their prominence, they can still grow back following treatment.
Unfortunately, even with effective treatment, keloid scars do tend to reoccur. This is why it’s critical to keep an eye on the treated keloid’s location and to act quickly to seek treatment if it starts to regrow. The type of treatment used will affect the recurrence rate of keloid scars.
The recurrence rate of keloid scars is influenced by factors such as the location of the scar, the size of the scar, and the patient’s tendency to develop keloids.
Our keloid scar consultations involve creating a customised care plan suited to your particular scar. Our surgeons have extensive experience in treating keloid scars and will monitor your progress throughout.
Excess collagen is the cause of both keloids and hypertrophic scars during wound healing.
However, keloids are different as they can spread outside of the wound, whereas hypertrophic scars remain contained within it. Additionally, keloids are far more challenging to treat.
Hypertrophic scars tend to resolve over time with or without treatment. Keloids may remain on your body despite efforts to reduce them.
Keloid scars can result after piercings, especially in those who are predisposed to them.
Any piercing, including those in the body, cartilage, and earlobes, can develop keloids. If the piercing is done incorrectly, the jewellery is excessively tight, or the individual is predisposed to keloid scarring, there is a greater chance that the piercing will result in a keloid scar.
If you’re thinking about getting a piercing, make sure the piercer you choose is trustworthy and carefully follow their aftercare guidelines to reduce the chance of obtaining a keloid scar.
It is less common to develop a keloid scar following a tattoo, but it is still possible.
This is especially the case if the tattoo is large, the individual is prone to keloid scarring, or the tattoo was done incorrectly.
Keloid scars can occasionally appear years after the tattoo was completed.
To reduce the chance of having a keloid scar, if you’re thinking about being inked, pick a trustworthy tattoo artist and carefully follow their aftercare guidelines.
Injections of the steroid (triamcinolone) are the most effective way of treating most Keloid scars, though this will depend on the size and location of the scar.
After 4 to 6 sessions of this treatment, the appearance of Keloids will have improved dramatically.
If the scar is particularly large, it can be reduced in size with surgery. This will then be followed up with a series of postoperative steroid injections.
Steroid treatment for Keloid scars takes between 15 and 30 minutes per session.
Surgical removal of Keloids can take up to 1 hour depending on size.
Keloid scar treatment often requires a combination of different treatments that take place over weeks or months.
A consultation is always your first step, where you can obtain a full understanding of the severity of your scarring and your treatment options.
Everyone’s keloid scar reduction treatment is going to be different so providing a guaranteed cost for treatment is difficult. Our experts work with patients to ensure they are receiving the best possible treatment for their scar with reduced risk of recurrence where possible. You can rest assured that you are in the greatest of hands.
Prices for Keloid Scar Steroid Injection treatment start from £330.
Surgical removal of Keloids starts at £1,150.
Keloid treatment with steroid injections should see an improvement in the appearance of your scars within two to three weeks of your first treatment. A course of treatment is required for the best results.
Surgical excision of keloid scars provides an instant result but it is advised to wait 6 weeks before the area is fully healed. Steroid injections during the recovery process are recommended to help assist with healing to help achieve a good result.
Keloid reccurance following surgical removal is not uncommon which is why our experienced surgeons will work with you to establish the best course of treatment for you.
To reduce the risk of a keloid returning after surgical removal, most patients are recommended to have another treatment after surgery such as steroid injections.
It’s important to understand that keloid scar treatment is more of a scar revision procedure that involves swapping the original scar for a better quality and less noticeable scar.
