4 Months since otoplasty, developing hypertrophic or keloid scar? Advice please...! (Photo)

Question

I had otoplasty 4 months ago (permanent suture no cartilage removal) I had some complications. 1) After surgery I had a permanent suture eroding 2) All skin stitches removed at 19 days 3) Permanet suture removal @ 23 days. Doctor put a new one permanent suture in place and 1 skin stitch 4) 1 skin stitch removal / and the tip of the new permanent suture trimmed @ 28th day 5) I'm @ 16 week (4 month) skin looks bumpy and have white hard texture under skin

Inessa Fishman, MD · Answer

All scars go through a healing stage, with most scars taking a year to a year-and-a-half to mature fully.  Redness decreases and scar tissue softens and flattens as healing takes place. Younger people tend to be more exuberant scar formers than people in their 60s and older.  Furthermore, added inflammation from an eroding suture or a low-grade infection can increase the bumpiness of a scar and prolong its healing.  All that being said, a lumpy or raised scar may be improved with small injections of an anti-inflammatory steroid (such as Kenalog); lots of surgeons will also mix and inject steroids with the anti-scarring medication 5-FU.  Oftentimes, a series of tiny injections may help a scar settle down more quickly.  Your best course of action is to follow-up with your surgeon for an in-person exam and discussion of your treatment options.  That, and a little time, will help tremenously.  Good luck!

Scott Shadfar, MD · Answer

Hello  salud111, Thank you for your question.Without examining you, physically feeling the tissue, assessing your desired outcome, taking a full medical history, and discussing the pros and cons of any further treatments it is difficult to be comprehensive.It appears from your photos you do have some evidence of hypertrophic scarring.  You are still only 3 months out from the last suture being removed.   Some surgeons will use injections of steroids (Kenalog) to help reduce the amount of scar tissue that may build up.It can take scars up to 12 months to fully mature and the scar will evolve and improve over that time frame. I would discuss this with your surgeon.Best of luck ,Dr. S

4 Months since otoplasty, developing hypertrophic or keloid scar? Advice please...! (Photo)

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4 Months since otoplasty, developing hypertrophic or keloid scar? Advice please...! (Photo)

Answers (2)

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Everything you need to know about Ear Surgery

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