Keloid Removal After Surgery: Understanding Treatment Options

Keloids are "raised, reddish nodules that develop at the site of an injury," according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD) (see Reference 1). Keloids, the AOCD reports, appear above the surface of the epidermis and form mounds of scar tissue. There are ways to decrease the size and discoloration of keloids, including surgical treatment.

Instructions

Keloid Reduction

• 1

  Research and read materials on different types of treatment offered for keloid removal before committing to surgery.

• 2

  Consult your dermatologist or a plastic surgeon who has been certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons. In other words, consult a professional you can trust (see Reference 2).

• 3

  Prepare yourself prior to surgery. Your surgeon should give you specific instructions on what to do.

• 4

  Day of surgery. You may be given some medication to relax. As usual, your surgeon should tell you what to expect prior to the surgery (see Reference 2).

• 5

  The surgery. Your surgeon should make you aware of what he or she plans on doing during the operation.

• 6

  Recovery. Healing takes 1 to 2 weeks after surgery (see Reference 2).