What Are Keloid Scars?

Keloid scars are thick raised scars that develop after a skin injury, most commonly on the earlobes, shoulders, cheeks, and middle of the chest. Keloids often have an irregular shape because they can be considered clusters of scar tissue that grow beyond the borders of the original wound. This excess growth is what makes them different than hypertrophic scars.

Sometimes keloids will quickly stop growing, leaving a small or moderately sized scar, but other times, they continue to grow years after the injury occurred. People with darker skin are most susceptible to developing keloids, but anyone can be affected by unsightly scars.

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What Causes Keloid Scars?

Keloid formation is caused by the overproduction of collagen during the body’s natural healing response. Collagen is a protein in the body that aids in the skin’s healing process and helps regenerate connective tissues after burns, body piercings, hair removal, injections, and even minor scrapes. Collagen helps to seal an open wound but too much collagen buildup leaves behind a mass of scar tissue.

How Are Keloid Scars Treated?

Dr. Falcon relies on corticosteroid injections as an effective treatment for almost all patients bothered by keloids. Corticosteroids break the connective bonds between collagen fibers underneath the skin, breaking up scar tissue to reduce the size of bothersome keloid scars. Steroids also have anti-inflammatory properties that ease swelling, redness, and itchiness sometimes associated with keloid scarring. These injections should be performed after the scar has fully healed. Some doctors give their patients steroid injections prior to surgery as a preventative measure for keloid and hypertrophic scarring.

Patients should expect to receive up to five injections every 4-6 weeks, but each procedure only takes a few minutes and requires no downtime. After each injection, massaging the treated scar can help break up the scar tissue and maximize the effectiveness of your scar treatment.

Are Keloid Scar Injections Covered by Insurance?

In most cases, keloid scar steroid injections are covered by insurance. It’s always best to double-check with your provider before receiving treatment.

Schedule a Consultation

At Falcon Plastic Surgery, you can rely on Dr. Falcon’s extensive experience in plastic and reconstructive surgery for effective scar revision. Schedule a consultation today at one of our two offices in Natrona Heights and Monroeville, PA by filling out an online contact form. We are located just a few miles outside Pittsburgh, between Greensburg and Butler, PA.

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For more information on our natural approach to plastic surgery, please fill out the contact form or call our office.

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