Dermal piercing below my neck which has turned into a keloid and a scar. Advice? (photos)

Question

I got a dermal piercing done below my neck two years ago. For few months it was perfectly good but then once using my phone while sleeping, my phone fell on the piercing which made it slant. I tried to fix it twice by pushing it back in place but was of no help. It did not heal so eventually I had to remove it. After that the surrounding area got infected and developed a keloid which looks like a scar. Now i hate to look at it and want to remove the Keloid and the scar completely. Please guide me

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Our treatments use combination therapy to improve the epidermis and dermis for most deep scars. The options available for acne scars depend on the character of your scars, in terms of topography and contour. We see atrophic and hypertrophic acne scars, as well as scars that have hypo and hyperpigmentation. We begin each scar evaluation with an assessment of scar quality and subtype. Our main concern is rebuilding collagen and that is why we use a HIDEF protocol that includes combination therapy. Morpheus 8, scar subcision, fibrous release, fractional laser, CO2 laser, Thulium laser, PDL Vbeam laser, and fractional resurfacing can be used in addition to TCA Cross and chemical peels to further improve skin. Patients should start Melarase AM and Melarase PM for active hyperpigmentation. Always begin with a consultation to decide whether early subcision should be started.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

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 photograph, you may benefit from surgical excision of your neck keloid with a multi-layered closure.   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

Jacqueline Wegge, MD · Answer

This must be a frustrating situation, but there are several options available to improve the scar.  Frequently a scar will become thickened when it heals after trauma and infection, and can often be improved just be cutting it out and sewing it back together to let it heal without tension.  There are also other therapies that can be helpful like steroid injections and laser treatments.  It would be best to have it examined by a plastic surgeon that can look at the texture and color of the scar and the surrounding skin to come up with the best treatment plan.

Dermal piercing below my neck which has turned into a keloid and a scar. Advice? (photos)

Answers (3)