Keloid Removal with Rubber Bands? (photo)

As my colleagues have pointed out, the rubber band remedy is best avoided.  Keloids are an abnormal scarring response to injury and look different than regular scar tissue under a microscope.  The literature shows that all excisional techniques carry a roughly 50% recurrence rate.  The best approach is to use some form of injectable anti-inflammatory like kenalog in a staged series of injections prior to excising the softened and sometimes diminished keloid.  My concern is that rubber band strangulation may irritate the keloid and make it far worse.

I agree with the sentiment of my colleagues that rubber bands will not work and you should not try this at home. With that said, there are published techniques using suture ligation of keloids that work well. This requires several visits to your surgeons office and a significant period of time for the keloid to essentially become starved of a blood supply and fall off. The best and most expeditious option, however, is to have it surgically removed in the office by a plastic surgeon. I hope this information is helpful.Stephen Weber MD, FACS

I treat a lot of keloids and the most reliable treatment in my practice is surgical excision and closure of the keloids.