A common reason we see patients for a consultation at our office in Charlotte is for an evaluation for the treatment of facial keloids and keloid removal. Patients with keloids typically present with a multitude of concerns including:
There are a wide variety of possible treatment options for keloids. Over the years, I have developed my own treatment guidelines for patients with keloids and our success rate is overwhelmingly high.
When the skin is injured, the body has a normal mechanism to repair the injury. During this process, the immune system will destroy bacteria and the body will create new collagen, scar tissue, and skin. In patients who develop a keloid, this healing process becomes overactive, and the body continues to make scar tissue and skin. The continued growth of scar tissue and skin will create a keloid.
The overwhelming majority of facial keloids can be removed during a straightforward in-office surgical procedure. During this procedure, Dr. Kulbersh will draw around the keloid to show the patient exactly where the incisions will be made. Next, the keloid will be injected with numbing medicine. This injection will take less than two minutes. After the area is numbed, the area will be cleaned, and the surgery will begin. During the procedure, the patient will feel no discomfort or pain. Typically, the surgery will last between 30 and 90 minutes. The procedure is well-tolerated by patients.
Stitches will remain in the surgical area for one week. During this week of recovery, patients are encouraged to take it easy and limit their physical activity. The stitches need to be kept dry for 48 hours. After this time, patients can get the area wet in the shower. There is little pain or discomfort after the surgery. Most patients will take the day of surgery off from work and return to work the next day. Generally speaking, the recovery process is rather uneventful.
While facial keloids can form on any area of the face, the most common areas are on the ears and in the scalp.
In my experience, most patients are good candidates for surgical excision of facial keloids with injections of 5-FU after surgery. There are patients that have excessively large or wide keloids that would not be good surgical candidates. During a consultation, Dr. Kulbersh will explain if you are or are not a good candidate for a surgical excision of the facial keloid.
Visit MedlinePlus.gov for information on your next keloid removal procedure.
Dr. Kulbersh is a Beverly Hills, double board-certified, facial plastic surgeon. He commonly and successfully treats facial keloids at his practice in Charlotte, North Carolina. To make a consultation with Dr. Kulbersh, please call 704.842.3644 or fill out the online consultation form on this website.
