subject: Keloid Scar Removal: Forget Surgery [print this page] Each type of scar will require a different type of treatment. For the most part, they can be treated with surgery and laser therapy. However, keloid scars are more complicated as they tend to grow indefinitely and recur after surgical excision.
Fortunately, there are other forms of keloid removal that are less invasive than surgery but very effective. You can use one or a combination of these procedures depending on the size and location of your keloid. Here are some alternatives you can look into.
Usually the first option any doctor will offer to treat keloids are steroid injections. These injections are used when trying to flatten scar tissue which will help make keloid scars less noticeable, nevertheless, the flattened keloid will still have a different feel than regular skin surrounding it.
Steroid injections can be used before, during and after surgery as well. When injections are used this way in keloid scar removal surgery, it can hinder the development of new keloids. The doctor will evaluate your situation and then determine the best course of action.
Another alternative for keloid treatment, i.e. compression therapy, can be used on burn scars and any type of raised scars. Compression therapy is one of the oldest forms of scar treatment. Compression garments or devices are often custom fitted and should be worn for 24 hours a day and up to a year or more.
Silicone sheets are also used to help flatten keloids and other hypertrophic scars. In fact, they can be used on all types of scars, not just keloids. The treatment includes wearing these sheets for a few hours a day for several weeks.
You can usually find these sheets at your local drugstore. They are very effective and a good alternative for keloid treatment. In fact, usage is quite simple. All you need to do is cut the sheet down to size so that it will fit the affected area.
Laser therapy can also be implemented as an effective keloid scar treatment. Pulsed dye lasers are used to flatten keloids. Laser therapy has also been known to help reduce redness that is common with most keloid scars.
Smaller keloids that have formed due to piercings can be treated with cryotherapy. This type of treatment freezes the keloid scar using liquid nitrogen to help flatten its appearance. Although it has proven very effective in treating keloids, cryotherapy can also darken the skin surrounding the scar.
Remember that it is important to consult your doctor about all of your possibilities. If the doctor suggests surgery as a treatment option, then you can combine it with one or more of the previously mentioned alternatives. However, if you're not too sure what treatment option is right for you, rest assured that there is a viable treatment out there.
