Keloids Growing Back After Removal

Keloids do recur with some frequency.  Surgery alone may only be successful half the time.  If this is your 2nd attempt, I would strongly suggest you add compression therapy, steroid therapy and radiation therapy to the regimen.  Even despite all this, it may still come back, but the likelihood diminishes considerably. 

1) Compression earings:  For a good year - worn all the time (except for showering)

2)  Steroid injections:  Once every 4-6 weeks.  Would recommend 6 treatments if there is no recurrence.

3)  Radiation therapy:  Usually done the same or next day.  Three treatment cycles is usually sufficient, but I would talk to a radiation oncologist to verify.  The overall dose is considerably less than cancer treatment.  And just to reassure you:  Keloids are not cancerous.  But they are aggressive.

Good luck.

Thank you for your question.

Keloids are formed as a result of irregular, dense collagen redistribution after injury or surgery and have a high recurrence rate.

Ways to help minimize the rate of recurrence following surgical removal of keloids are steroid injections at the time of removal and subsequently at 4 week intervals, silicone sheeting, and pressure dressings. Other common treatment options for recurrent keloids are cryotherapy (freezing), radiation, and laser treatment.  A multitude of additional, less common treatment options exist if traditional methods fail.

I hope this helps.

Keloids do have a high recurrence rate.  Surgery is not an end-all cure for keloids.  I would advise you to undergo a similar procedure followed by a closer follow-up. I also recommend Melarase creams for darkened or pigmented keloid scars. 

Removal of keloids is very difficult task. Some patients are more prone to developing keloids and some areas are more at risk, like the earlobe, shoulder, upper back, midline of the chest. Keloids typically run in the family and it is a problem with wound healing. So just by excising it, yes likely it will come back. There are some special things that can be done like steroid injections at the time of removal with follow ups every 6 weeks. Also radiation to the area as well as compression garments. Doing all this this can lead to a high rate of recurrence which is upwards to about 50% chance it will come back.

Keloids have a biologic behavior much similar to tumors. Excision alone often time leads to recurrence.
The next incision should be accompanied by a corticosteroid injection at the time of removal, as well as corticosteroid injections every 4-6 weeks for the next 3-6 months. You should also wear a compression earring all day and night if the keloid is on your earlobe. Should that be unsuccessful, the next treatment can incorporate fractionated external beam radiation treatment. Over 3-4 treatments, you would receive localized radiation, significantly diminishing the incidence of recurrence.
Best of luck!