Keloid scar after radical mastectomy 7 years ago (Photo)

Question

Please advise how can the keloid is treated or let it be. Thank you. I had a radical mastectomy ( L) in 2010 and following with Radiation and Tamoxifen treatment. The scar heal well but the lower end of scar became keloid. It was red and painful. Recently, the keloid has extended further and I has suffered from sharp pain, especially as wearing bra.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Keloid scars are characterized by their growth potential and increased degree of inflammation within the skin. Unlike non-inflamed scars, keloids have the potential for growth beyond the original footprint of injury. Our office specializes in the management of keloids, whether single or multiple, using a combination platform that includes lasers, RF, scar modulation, Parke-Davis Scar Protocols, and injection therapy. Some keloids will require surgical intervention as an initial step for treatment. 
Best, 
Dr. Raffy Karamanoukian
Realself 100 Surgeon

Leslie Memsic, MD, FACS · Answer

You have many options to improve the looks of this scar. Consult a plastic surgeon for definitive advice, but I recommend the keloid area be cut away and resewn with a small injection of steroid solution to minimize keloid re formation. Laser, silicone creams and microneedling techniques may be necessary postoperatively, but since only a small area of your incision healed with keloid, I think these remedies may not be necessary. Non operative injection of steroids or silicone creams may help flatten the scar but it will still be wide so I suggest surgical excision first. Good luck and take care.

Cain R. Linville, MD, FACS · Answer

It may be possible to inject this with a steroid to help calm it down, and it may also be amenable to surgical removal.  Since you didn't keloid the entire scar, it seems unlikely you would keloid again.

Heather Richardson, MD, FACS · Answer

Options include excising the keloid portion and watching the area. If the keloid looks like it is re-forming, steroid injection, laser treatments, or micro needling are options to improve it as it heals the second time. Keloids can be stubborn problems. You can also try laser, microneedling and steroid injections without re-excision. A silicone scar strip or silicone based scar topical solution can be purchased on the internet or at most drugstores and may slowly make the area softer, less sensitive, and slightly smaller, but this may take a while (weeks to months) and may not have that much of an impact. However, it would also be the quickest and most cost effective thing you could try and you wouldn't need to visit your doctor. Good luck!

Keloid scar after radical mastectomy 7 years ago (Photo)

Answers (4)