Keloid removal surgery is an operation that removes a raised scar growing excessively beyond the original wound. It may cause itching, pain, altered appearance or restricted movement. The surgery aims to relieve symptoms and improve the look of the scar, with added treatment to lower the chance of regrowth.
It is usually done under local anaesthesia. The surgeon cuts out the excess scar tissue and closes the wound with fine stitches without tension, sometimes leaving a thin rim of keloid to lower the risk of regrowth. Because a keloid can return after excision alone, an additional treatment such as steroid injections, silicone sheeting, pressure or radiotherapy is usually added, depending on the case.
The operation usually takes half an hour to an hour. Many people resume light activity within days, and stitches are removed after one to two weeks. Follow-up is needed for months. The final result becomes clear after several months, and follow-up may continue for a year or more to detect any early regrowth.
The final cost is set after a medical consultant reviews your case and photos.
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It may relieve itching, pain and tightness and improve the look and movement of the affected area. However, excision alone may not be enough, and additional treatment is usually needed.
A good candidate has a bothersome or disfiguring keloid that has not responded to non-surgical treatment such as injections or pressure. The doctor considers its size, site, cause and any previous regrowth before recommending surgery.
Your doctor reviews your medical history, medicines and earlier keloid treatments. Never stop a prescribed medicine on your own. Stopping smoking is advised because it impairs wound healing.
Usually under local anaesthesia, the excess scar tissue is removed and the wound is closed with fine stitches without tension. The planned additional treatment then begins, such as steroid injections, pressure, radiotherapy or silicone sheets.
Mild pain and swelling last for a few days, and light activity can usually resume quickly. Stitches are removed after one to two weeks. Wound care, avoiding tension, additional treatment sessions and follow-up visits are essential.
Results become clear after a few months as the scar matures. They may last, but keloids can return even after treatment, so long follow-up is needed and further treatment may be required.
The main risk is regrowth, which can occasionally be larger than the original keloid. Others include infection, delayed healing, colour change and bleeding. Steroid or radiation treatment may cause local side effects, and radiotherapy is decided cautiously, especially in children.
Yes, a new surgical scar remains, and the aim is for it to be flatter and softer than the previous keloid. Its colour and texture may differ from the surrounding skin.
It is usually advisable to wait until the doctor is satisfied that the wound is stable, often about a week, but longer depending on the keloid's location. Your treating doctor confirms the right timing.
Yes. Regrowth is a well-known possibility and is more likely when the keloid is cut out without additional treatment. For that reason injections, pressure or radiotherapy are usually added, and regular follow-up is needed to catch any regrowth early.
