Keloids, Do They Disappear over Time?

asked 1 year ago by Neeko in California
Latest answer by Sam Naficy, MD
Question viewed 620 times
Tags: keloid scar

I had an operation a few years ago and got keloids. Does this mean every time I have surgery I will get keloids? I would like to have a facelift down the road, but it scares me in case it happens again. Thanks, Neeko

10 answers to Keloids, Do They Disappear over Time?

Keloids do not go away with time.

They do flatten out and become less red. Facelift scars rarely keloid. When it is time for your facelift the surgeon will be able to tell you with a greater degree of certainty. In 35 years of facelifting I have never had a keloid on a facelift patient.

Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Keloids very rare after facial surgery

Keloids and hypertrophic scars are not very common after facial surgery, even if you have experienced them in other body areas

Sam Naficy, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Keloids or hypertrophic scars

Are the scars truly keloid or hypertrophic? More than likely they are hypertrophic. SOmetimes these can be revised.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Keloids from facelift is rare

Keloids are an overgrowth that occurs from over-healing and do not disappear over time. They are more common in dark-skinned individuals and in certain areas of the body. Just because you have a keloid on your shoulder does not necessarily mean you will get one from a facelift. We have seen very limited keloids in dark-skinned individuals after a facelift, because at the time of the surgery we place cortisone injections in the incision areas. Close monitoring and follow-up by both the... more

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

Keloids

Keloids which formed after surgery several years ago will not improve without treatment such as cortisone injections or topical silicone sheets. You do not mention where on your body the previous surgery was done, but in 35 years I have never seen a keloid form after a facelift.

Richard W. Fleming, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Keloids

Keloids have a greater tendency to develop in people of color and area of the central body(chest, shoulders,back,etc.) They can develop on the ears after piercings. I would have a plastic surgeon examine your scars because some patients confuse keloids with a widened scar. Dr. ES

Earl Stephenson Jr., MD, DDS
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Keloids, Do They Disappear over Time

I will directly answer your questions. No keloids do not disappear over time. they can flatten out but are more than likely to continue to grow by definition: A keloid (also known as a "keloidal scar"[1]:1499) is a type of scar, which depending on its maturity, is composed of mainly either type III (early) or type I (late) collagen. It is a result of an overgrowth of granulation tissue (collagen type 3) at the site of a healed skin injury which is then slowly replaced by... more

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Keloids are a problem

Without pictures and without examining you, it is hard to give specific advice. Additionally, patients sometimes think that they have keloids when they actually have hypertrophic scars or some other healing issue. If you do have true keloids, there is a chance that you will get them again. There are not great treatments for keloids there are some methods such as steroids and radiation which may help. Good luck.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

Keloids are not predictable.

Keloids cannot necessarily be predicted. The earlobes are a very common place but not everyone who gets a keloid from a piercing in one ear will necessarily get one in the opposite ear lobule. The same goes for other parts of the body. Keloids have a tendency to grow whereas hypertrophic scars only grow for up to two years and then subside thereafter.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Keloid once doesn't mean keloids again

Keloids are more prone to occur in certain body areas, although they can occur anywhere (except the palms and soles). Keloids do not go away over time and typically require aggressive treatment to resolve. Many people have scars that they THINK are keloids, but the are not. This is actually very common. You might consider having your scars seen by a plastic surgeon for evaluation. You may be pleasantly surprised to learn that they are just hypertrophic... more