My insurance is medical. My doctor suggested I should get my keloid scar removed. Do you think medical would cover that? (Photo)

Question

Richard G. Reish, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question.  The
best advice you can receive is from an in-person consultation.  Based on
your photographs, you may benefit from a surgical scar revision of your neck keloid.  Depending on your insurance provider, most insurance companies will cover this procedure.   Make sure you specifically look
at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery
performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results.   The most
important aspect is to find a surgeon you are comfortable with. I recommend
that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who
can evaluate you in person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D.  FACS
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

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.

Massaging your scar can reduce inflammatory mediators that are responsible for chronic inflammation and scar overgrowth. It’s a rather simple technique that inactivates celluar inflammation mechanisms that can lead to keloid and hypertrophic scars. Start by applying a thin coat of Plato's Scar Serum twice daily to the scar and gently massaging the scar footprint. Be gentle, taking care not to slough off newly formed skin and reducing shear force on the dermis. This is ideal for new and old scars. 
•	Twice daily application of a scar gel. 
•	Scar modulation with gentle massage.
•	Intralesional injections in case there is overgrowth of scar tissue.
•	Vascular lasers for neovascularization of scars.
•	Stimulatory injections for scar atrophy. 
Scar gels work well, but should be combined with a physician-directed protocol to reduce scar formation and reduce scar visibility.

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
The Scar Doctor
Realself100 Surgeon

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

no medical insurance covers keloid removal. you have a chance of recurrence with surgical removal but lasers can help reduce the look.
there are many options for hypertrophic scars:
1. vascular lasers (yellow laser, vbeam, excel v)
2. fractional lasers (fraxel, erbium, co2)
3. microneedling/PRP
4. silicone based scar gels with growth factors5. excision +/- radiationsee an expert.Best, Dr. Emer.

My insurance is medical. My doctor suggested I should get my keloid scar removed. Do you think medical would cover that? (Photo)

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Everything you need to know about Scar Removal

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My insurance is medical. My doctor suggested I should get my keloid scar removed. Do you think medical would cover that? (Photo)

Answers (3)

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Scar Removal

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.