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Keloid Treatment: Hollowing out and Radiation

asked 3 years ago by markpart1 in los angeles
Latest answer by Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
Question viewed 2,529 times
Tags: keloid scar

Hi, I have large keloids on my shoulders. My plastic surgeon suggested hollowing it out, maybe taking 90% of it out in the middle, then he can use the rest of the top skin to close it without tension. I will still have a scar but at least it will be flat, then radiation treatment right after and three more every other day. I'm concerned that cutting it out even with radiation will give me a bad scar or another keloid because of the tension. Does this treatment sound like a good solution?

3 answers to Keloid Treatment: Hollowing out and Radiation

+2

Recurrence and treatment options for keloids

Keloids are quite difficult to treat, but very gratifying when the lesions are eliminated or improved. The first stage of treatment remains compression and intralesional injection at regular intervals. Surgery, although an option, should be reserved for debilitating or deformational lesions. Radiation, is also reserved for these few cases where the deformity risks far outweigh the long-term destructive risks of radiation. I would advise a conservative approach to most keloidic lesions.... more
Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Consider Surgery with Botox

Hello Mark, I agree with your Surgeon's recommendation of "hollowing out" the keloid and keeping most of the overlying skin intact. This will allow for the keloid to be flattened out and decrease the tension on the scar as it heals, reducing the chances of the keloid reforming. Yes, the top part will reattach to the bottom part so as to give the area a flattened appearance. I also use Botox during keloid removals to further decease any tension on the wound as it heals. Kenalog is also... more
Kamran Jafri, MD

New York Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Combination treatment for keloids

I think what you call "hollowing" is just removing a portion of the keloid and leaving a small peripheral portion. If you decide to proceed with this procedure, it is indeed the right way to do it, since removing the whole keloid can make it return with a vengeance, and even bigger. Unfortunately, with keloids, there is always a risk of recurrence. We usually inject Kenalog (steroids) at the time of the excision as well, and sometimes for several months afterwards. Another... more
Stella Desyatnikova, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

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