Plastic Surgery · Jaipur Hospital
Keloid Treatment in Jaipur
Your scar may itch, feel tight or make you self-conscious. Jaipur Hospital offers a plastic surgery assessment, clear answers and a plan you can follow.
- Serving Jaipur since 1991 (35 years)
- NABH accredited
- 24×7 emergency & ICU
- Cashless: RGHS, MAA Yojana, CGHS + 32 insurers
- Treatment length
- Multiple sessions over months
- Anaesthesia
- Local anaesthesia or topical
- Recovery
- Ongoing care with pressure garments and follow-up
- Price
- ₹10,000 to ₹80,000typical range in India; ask us for an estimate
A scar that keeps growing
The scar came back, and it feels tight
A keloid is a raised scar that grows beyond the edge of the original wound. It may itch, feel tight or look different from the skin around it. Some scars return after treatment, which is why follow-up matters.
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Raised, firm scar
The scar may sit above the skin and feel hard or tight.
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Itch or discomfort
Some keloids itch or feel sore, even when there is no open wound.
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Embarrassment
You may cover the scar or avoid clothes that show it.
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It returns
Keloids can return after treatment, so follow-up matters.
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Cost and time
You may worry about repeated visits, time off work and the cost.
Keloids form when the skin makes too much collagen after an injury, so the scar grows beyond the wound.
Why Jaipur Hospital
You may be tired of covering the scar, worried about the cost, and unsure whether treatment is worth the time.
Your care plan
Your first steps with us
- 1 Call or email to book an OPD visit
- 2 Meet a plastic surgeon and describe your scar
- 3 Get your reports reviewed and a clear plan
- 4 Attend follow-up and use pressure garments as advised
How the operation is done
Keloid care usually takes several sessions over months. Your surgeon may use one option or a combination. You will have local anaesthesia or a topical cream, and you will go home the same day.
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Intralesional steroid injection
Triamcinolone is injected into the scar to reduce collagen production.
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Surgical excision with adjuvant
The scar is removed, then radiotherapy or steroid injections are used as advised.
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Silicone gel sheeting
A silicone sheet covers the scar and keeps it hydrated to help it flatten.
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Pressure garment therapy
Constant compression from a garment may help lower the chance of recurrence.
Why patients trust us
- 1991 Serving Jaipur for 35 years
- NABH Accredited hospital
- 1 Plastic Surgery consultants
- 24×7 Emergency, ICU and ambulance
- 35 Cashless schemes and insurers
What studies report
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12.5%
A study of surgery, corticosteroids and silicone sheeting reported a 12.5% recurrence rate after 13 months.
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44% vs 8%
In one study, skin atrophy occurred in 44% of the TAC group and 8% of the 5-FU group.
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46% vs 60%
At six months, remission was 46% with 5-FU and 60% with TAC in one study.
If it is left untreated
Without treatment, a keloid may keep growing beyond the original scar. It can itch, feel tight and affect how you feel about your appearance. Some people report a lower quality of life and poorer psychological health.
Life after treatment
Most people need time and follow-up, not a single visit. The aim is a scar that feels softer and is easier to live with, while your team watches for recurrence.
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Softer scar
The scar may feel softer and less raised as treatment continues.
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Less tightness
Many people find tightness eases as the scar settles.
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Back to routine
You can usually return to work and daily tasks between visits.
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Clear follow-up
Your team checks healing and tells you what to watch for.
Meet the team
Your plastic surgery doctors
Explore our plastic surgery hospital in Jaipur: every treatment, the doctors and what to expect at your visit.
Frequently asked questions
Questions patients ask about keloid treatment
What is keloid and hypertrophic scar treatment?
In short
Keloid and hypertrophic scar treatment at Jaipur Hospital uses a multimodal approach that combines several methods over months. The aim is to flatten the scar, reduce symptoms such as itching or tightness, and lower the chance of the scar growing back after treatment.
In detail
Keloids grow beyond the original wound borders while hypertrophic scars stay within them. Both result from excess collagen during healing.
Evidence shows single treatments often fail, so our surgical team combines intralesional steroid injections, surgical excision with adjuvant therapy, silicone gel sheeting, and pressure garment therapy. Injections such as triamcinolone reduce collagen synthesis.
Surgery alone has a high recurrence rate, so it is paired with steroids or radiotherapy. Silicone sheeting worn 12 to 24 hours daily for two to three months and pressure garments worn for six to 12 months help flatten and soften the scar. Studies report that combined approaches achieve better long-term control than any single method.
A common belief
Many people expect a single cream or one procedure to work.
What actually happens
Evidence shows single treatments often fail and surgery alone can lead to regrowth in 50 to 100 percent of cases. A combined plan gives better control.
Your next step at Jaipur Hospital
Treatment involves multiple outpatient visits over several months. You will need to wear silicone sheets or pressure garments daily and attend follow-up appointments for injections or wound checks. The typical cost range in India is ₹10,000 to ₹80,000 depending on the plan. Your surgeon will design a schedule after examining your scar.
Which specialist should I see for keloid or hypertrophic scar treatment?
In short
You should see a plastic surgeon at Jaipur Hospital for keloid and hypertrophic scar treatment. Our Plastic Surgery department manages these scars with a multimodal approach that includes intralesional injections, surgical excision with adjuvant therapy, silicone gel sheeting, and pressure garment therapy.
In detail
Plastic surgeons specialise in skin and soft tissue reconstruction and scar management. They are trained to combine different modalities such as triamcinolone injections, 5-fluorouracil, verapamil, or bleomycin with surgery and radiotherapy when needed.
Evidence shows that surgical excision alone has a recurrence rate of 50 to 100 percent, so adjuvant therapy is essential. The plastic surgeon also coordinates silicone sheeting worn 12 to 24 hours daily and pressure garments worn for six to 12 months.
For ear keloids, the surgeon may use preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative steroid injections over four months. A multidisciplinary team including anaesthesia and nursing supports the outpatient visits.
A common belief
Some patients go to a dermatologist or general surgeon first.
What actually happens
While they can give injections, complex or recurrent keloids often need surgical excision with adjuvant radiotherapy or staged steroid protocols that a plastic surgeon coordinates. A combined plan reduces recurrence.
Your next step at Jaipur Hospital
At your first visit, the plastic surgeon will examine the scar, review any previous treatments, and discuss a plan tailored to the site, size, and your risk factors. Treatment usually involves multiple outpatient sessions over months. The typical cost range in India is ₹10,000 to ₹80,000.
What treatment options are available for my keloid or hypertrophic scar situation?
In short
At Jaipur Hospital the options include intralesional steroid injections, surgical excision combined with adjuvant steroids or radiotherapy, silicone gel sheeting and pressure garment therapy. These are used alone or in combination depending on scar size, site, previous treatments and patient factors. All are outpatient procedures under local or topical anaesthesia.
In detail
Intralesional triamcinolone reduces collagen synthesis and is a well-established first-line choice. Surgical excision alone has a 50 to 100 percent recurrence rate, so it is paired with perioperative corticosteroids or postoperative radiotherapy.
Evidence shows combination triamcinolone with 5-fluorouracil can improve scar height, pliability and pigmentation with fewer side effects like atrophy or telangiectasia.
Silicone sheeting worn 12 to 24 hours daily for two to three months and pressure garments at 24 to 30 mm Hg for six to 12 months are effective for prevention and treatment.
Triple therapy with surgery, steroids and silicone has shown a 12.5 percent recurrence rate at 13 months. The surgeon selects the regimen based on whether the scar is primary or recurrent, its location and your risk profile.
- Triple therapy with surgery, steroids and silicone has shown a 12.5 percent recurrence rate at 13 months.
A common belief
Many people try one thing like a cream or a single injection, but studies show single treatments have high recurrence.
What actually happens
A combined plan tailored to your scar type and history works better.
Your next step at Jaipur Hospital
Your surgeon will explain which combination suits your scar and outline the session schedule, expected duration and follow-up plan. Typical treatment spans several months with ongoing pressure or silicone use.
What can I safely do at home to manage symptoms of a keloid or hypertrophic scar?
In short
At home, you can use silicone gel sheeting or silicone gel as directed, wear pressure garments if prescribed, keep the scar moisturised, and protect it from sun exposure. At Jaipur Hospital, our surgical team advises that consistent daily use of silicone sheeting for 12 to 24 hours over two to three months can flatten and soften the scar. Pressure garments worn for six to 12 months help prevent recurrence, especially after surgery or burns. Avoid scratching or picking at the scar, which can worsen itching and inflammation.
In detail
Evidence shows silicone gel sheeting produces a statistically significant reduction in scar thickness and colour. It works by occlusive hydration and modulating collagen production. Pressure therapy at 24 to 30 mm Hg is effective for preventing hypertrophic scars, particularly in burn patients.
Keeping the scar hydrated with a simple moisturiser reduces dryness and itching. Sun protection prevents hyperpigmentation, which is more common in darker skin types. Studies indicate that onion extract gel or topical vitamin E do not provide lasting improvement for established keloids or hypertrophic scars.
Intralesional injections and surgical procedures are performed in the clinic and are not home treatments. Your surgeon will give you a specific schedule for garment wear, sheeting changes, and follow‑up visits.
A common belief
Some people try home remedies like onion extract gel or vitamin E oil.
What actually happens
Studies show these do not give lasting improvement for established keloids. The proven non‑surgical options are silicone sheeting and pressure therapy, which need consistent, long‑term use to work.
Your next step at Jaipur Hospital
You will receive written instructions at Jaipur Hospital on how to apply silicone sheets, when to wear pressure garments, and how to care for the skin. Follow‑up appointments are usually monthly at first, then spaced out as the scar improves. The typical treatment course lasts several months.
How is a keloid different from a raised or immature scar?
In short
At Jaipur Hospital, your surgeon distinguishes a keloid from a raised or immature scar by its behaviour and boundaries. A keloid grows beyond the original wound edges, does not regress on its own, and may continue to enlarge for months or years. A hypertrophic scar stays within the wound borders and often improves with time. An immature scar is still in the early healing phase and may flatten naturally.
In detail
Keloids are elevated fibrous scars that extend beyond the borders of the original wound. Hypertrophic scars are confined to the wound borders and usually regress over time. Keloids may take three months or even years to develop.
Both result from excessive tissue response to dermal injury due to fibroblast proliferation and collagen overproduction, driven by dysregulation in the inflammatory, proliferative, and remodelling phases. Clinically, keloids feel firm, rubbery, and often cause itching or discomfort.
Hypertrophic scars are raised but remain within the incision or injury line. Immature scars are typically red, slightly raised, and may be sensitive, but they mature over 12 to 18 months.
The distinction matters because keloids have high recurrence rates and need multimodal therapy, while hypertrophic scars often respond to silicone sheeting or pressure alone.
A common belief
Many people mistake a thick healing scar for a keloid.
What actually happens
The difference changes the treatment: keloids need multimodal therapy because they recur often, while hypertrophic scars may only need silicone or pressure.
Your next step at Jaipur Hospital
If you are unsure whether your scar is a keloid, a hypertrophic scar, or still maturing, attend an OPD visit for clinical assessment. The surgeon will examine the scar, ask about its history, and recommend the appropriate treatment pathway.
How will appearance, function, and realistic expectations be discussed for keloid treatment?
In short
At Jaipur Hospital, your surgeon will explain the likely changes in scar height, colour, pliability, and any functional limitation during the consultation. Goals are set based on scar type, site, and your response to previous therapy.
In detail
Studies show combination therapy such as triamcinolone with 5-fluorouracil achieves good to excellent results in 84 percent of cases, with significant improvement in scar height, pliability, and pigmentation. Silicone sheeting reduces thickness and colour. Pressure garments prevent recurrence, especially after burns.
Recurrence rates after surgery with adjuvant radiotherapy range from 12.5 to 27 percent in studies. No treatment ensures long-term removal, and keloids have high recurrence rates. The surgeon will outline the expected timeline, number of sessions, and the need for long-term follow-up with pressure garments.
- Studies show combination therapy such as triamcinolone with 5-fluorouracil achieves good to excellent results in 84 percent of cases, with significant improvement in scar height, pliability, and pigmentation.
A common belief
Even with combined surgery and radiotherapy, studies report recurrence rates of 12.5 to 27 percent.
What actually happens
Ongoing pressure garment use and follow-up are essential to maintain results.
Your next step at Jaipur Hospital
You will receive a clear explanation of what improvement looks like, how many visits are typical, and what ongoing care involves. Bring photos or earlier records if available.
Which symptoms or changes should prompt me to seek medical advice for keloid or hypertrophic scar?
In short
Seek medical advice at Jaipur Hospital if you notice a raised, firm scar that grows beyond the original wound borders, causes itching, tenderness, or a burning sensation, or restricts movement near a joint. Keloids may take three months or years to develop. Early evaluation helps prevent progression.
In detail
Keloids are elevated fibrous scars extending beyond the original wound. Hypertrophic scars stay within wound borders and usually regress over time. Both can cause itching, pain, burning, and reduced quality of life, physical status, and psychological health.
Keloids often appear on the sternum, shoulders, upper arms, earlobes, and cheeks. If a scar continues to enlarge, becomes painful, limits joint movement, or causes cosmetic concern, it warrants assessment. Patients with darker skin, aged 10-30 years, or with a family history are at higher risk.
A common belief
People often dismiss a growing scar as normal healing, but keloids do not stop on their own.
What actually happens
Early treatment reduces the chance of a larger, harder-to-treat scar.
Your next step at Jaipur Hospital
Do not wait for the scar to stabilise on its own. Early intervention with silicone sheeting, pressure therapy, or injections can improve outcomes. Your surgeon will examine the scar, ask about its timeline and symptoms, and discuss multimodal options.
What will the doctor ask and check at the first visit for keloid or hypertrophic scar treatment?
In short
At the first visit to Jaipur Hospital, the plastic surgeon will ask about the original injury, when the scar appeared, any previous treatments, family history of keloids, and whether you have symptoms such as itching, pain, or tightness. The surgeon will also ask about your age, skin type, and any hormonal changes.
In detail
The surgeon examines the scar size, shape, colour, texture, and whether it extends beyond the original wound borders. Measurements and photographs may be taken for baseline comparison. The site is important: sternum, shoulders, earlobes, and cheeks are high-risk areas.
The surgeon checks for satellite nodules, vascularity, and pliability. Previous treatments such as excision alone, compression, or steroid injections are noted because they influence the next plan.
Studies show that recurrence after excision alone is 50 to 100 percent, so the surgeon will plan adjuvant therapy from the start. The surgeon also assesses your general health and any contraindications to steroids or surgery.
A common belief
Patients often expect a quick prescription.
What actually happens
In reality, the first visit is a detailed assessment because the treatment plan depends on the scar behaviour, site, and your risk factors. A multimodal schedule is then created.
Your next step at Jaipur Hospital
Based on the assessment, the surgeon outlines a multimodal plan that may include intralesional injections, silicone sheeting, pressure garments, or surgical excision with adjuvant steroids or radiotherapy. You will receive a schedule for outpatient visits over several months. The typical cost range in India is ₹10,000 to ₹80,000.
Can a keloid or hypertrophic scar improve without a procedure or operation?
In short
A keloid or hypertrophic scar may become softer or less red over time, but true improvement without treatment is uncommon. At Jaipur Hospital, our surgical team explains that keloids often grow beyond the original wound and rarely regress on their own. Hypertrophic scars can flatten gradually, yet this may take many months or years. Early assessment helps decide whether active therapy is needed.
In detail
Evidence shows keloids result from excessive collagen production and abnormal wound healing that does not resolve spontaneously. Hypertrophic scars stay within wound borders and may regress, but keloids extend beyond them and have high recurrence rates.
Studies indicate that without intervention, keloids can persist for years and may enlarge. Silicone gel sheeting and pressure garments are non‑surgical options that can flatten and soften scars when used consistently for several months. Intralesional steroid injections reduce collagen synthesis and are considered first‑line therapy.
Surgical excision alone carries a high risk of recurrence, so it is usually combined with adjuvant treatment. The choice depends on scar size, location, duration, and your response to previous therapy.
A common belief
Many people hope the scar will fade with time.
What actually happens
In reality, keloids are caused by abnormal collagen overproduction that does not stop without intervention. Waiting can make the scar larger and harder to treat later.
Your next step at Jaipur Hospital
You can start with a consultation at Jaipur Hospital where your surgeon will examine the scar, review any past treatment, and discuss a plan that may include silicone sheeting, pressure garments, or injections. Follow‑up visits are scheduled over several months to monitor progress.
Are there foods, activities, or habits I should change for keloid management?
In short
No specific diet changes are proven to affect keloids. Avoid trauma to the area, including piercings, tattoos, or friction from tight clothing. Protect the scar from sun exposure. Jaipur Hospital advises on activity modification based on scar location.
In detail
High-risk trauma such as burns, ear piercing, and prolonged wound healing increases keloid risk. Sternal skin, shoulders, upper arms, earlobes, and cheeks are most susceptible. Hormonal changes during puberty or pregnancy can worsen keloids. Smoking impairs wound healing and may affect outcomes. There is no evidence that specific foods prevent or treat keloids.
A common belief
Many patients try special diets or supplements.
What actually happens
Evidence does not support them. Preventing new skin injury and consistent scar care matter more.
Your next step at Jaipur Hospital
Avoid unnecessary skin injury in prone areas. Use sun protection on the scar. Discuss any planned surgeries or piercings with your surgeon.
FAQ library
Questions and answers about keloid treatment
When you contact us
What you get at Jaipur Hospital
Call or email Jaipur Hospital to book an OPD consultation and discuss your scar and options.
- A consultation with a plastic surgeon in the OPD
- Your scans and reports reviewed, with tests done in-house if you need them (laboratory, X-ray and imaging)
- Your options explained in plain words, including whether you need surgery at all
- A cost estimate before you decide
- Help with cashless treatment under RGHS, MAA Yojana, CGHS and empanelled insurers and TPAs
- Follow-up visits after your treatment
Overview
Keloid Treatment: what to know
Keloid Treatment: What a Keloid Scar Is and How It Happens
- Keloid
- Raised scar that grows beyond the wound border
- Hypertrophic scar
- Raised scar that stays within the wound border
- Timing
- Can appear months or years after injury
- Cause
- Fibroblasts make too much collagen
A keloid is a raised, fibrous scar that grows beyond the borders of the original wound. A hypertrophic scar is also raised, but it stays within the wound borders and usually regresses over time. A keloid may take three months or even years to develop after the injury.
The scar forms because the skin responds too strongly to injury. Cells called fibroblasts in the skin multiply and make too much collagen. This happens when the healing process is out of balance in its inflammation, growth or remodelling stages. The result is a raised scar that can extend beyond the original cut or graze.
Keloids have high recurrence rates. Treatment is challenging, and there is no single accepted way to make a keloid go away and stay away. People with keloids or hypertrophic scars can report lower quality of life, poorer physical status and poorer psychological health.
Jaipur Hospital is a NABH-accredited multispeciality hospital, and our plastic surgery team sees patients with these scars in the outpatient department.
Keloid Symptoms and Warning Signs That Need Same-Day Care
- Wound opens after surgery Contact Jaipur Hospital the same day
- Treated scar starts to rise May be a recurrence and should be checked
A keloid looks like a raised, fibrous scar that extends beyond the original wound. It can appear months or years after the injury.
Some keloids are on:
- The earlobe
- The fold of the ear
- The chest
- The shoulders
- The upper arms
- The cheeks
The main effect can be on quality of life, physical status and psychological health.
The main warning sign that needs same-day care is a wound that opens after surgery. In one study, two ear wounds (3.8%) opened after stitches were removed; both healed with local wound care within five more days. If your stitches give way or the wound separates, contact Jaipur Hospital the same day.
A treated scar that starts to rise above the skin around it may be a recurrence and should be checked.
Keloid Causes and Who Is at Higher Risk
- 15- to 20-fold increased risk Darkly pigmented skin
- 10 to 20 years Age peak
- about 2.5% Ear piercing incidence
- 80.8% Earlobe location
Keloids and hypertrophic scars are caused by an excessive tissue response to injury in the deeper layer of the skin. Any injury that breaks this layer can start the process. Local fibroblasts multiply and produce too much collagen. This abnormal healing involves problems in the inflammation, growth or remodelling stages. The tendency can run in families.
Some people have a higher risk. Darkly pigmented skin carries a 15- to 20-fold increased risk of keloids. Risk is higher in people younger than 30 years, and it peaks between 10 and 20 years of age. Hormonal changes during puberty or pregnancy increase the risk.
Injuries that are more likely to cause keloids include:
- Burns
- Ear piercing
- Anything that slows wound healing
In one study, keloid incidence was about 2.5% after ear piercing.
The site of injury matters too. The skin over the breastbone, the shoulders, the upper arms, the earlobes and the cheeks is most susceptible. In one study of ear keloids, 80.8% were on the earlobe and 19.2% on the fold of the ear.
Keloids can take months or years to show, so a scar that appears long after the wound has healed still needs a check.
How Keloid Scars Are Diagnosed
- Clinical examination
- Surgeon checks if scar extends beyond wound border
- Measurements
- Longest diameter recorded (0.8 to 4 cm in studies)
- History taking
- Previous excisions and treatments are noted
- Pre-surgery tests
- Full clinical assessment and lab tests are done
Your surgeon can usually identify a keloid by examining the scar. The key difference is whether the scar extends beyond the original wound border. A keloid does; a hypertrophic scar stays within the border. The scar is measured, and in one study the longest diameter ranged from 0.8 to 4 cm.
Your surgeon will ask when the injury happened, how long the scar has been present and what treatment you have already had. A history of earlier excision is common; in one study, 84.6% of patients had one previous excision and 15.4% had more than one.
In one study, previous care was:
- Excision alone
- Excision with compression
- Excision with steroid injection
Before any surgery, a full clinical assessment and the necessary laboratory tests are done. Jaipur Hospital has an in-house diagnostic laboratory and imaging service. Your surgeon will explain what is needed for your case.
Keloid Treatment Without Surgery, and When Surgery Is Advised
Non-surgical treatment is often the first step. Steroid injections into the scar are a first-line treatment for keloids and hypertrophic scars. Triamcinolone is well established for this use. It works by reducing collagen production in the scar. Silicone gel sheeting is a non-invasive first-line option, but it takes time and effort. It reduces scar thickness and scar colour.
To be effective, it must be worn over the scar for 12 to 24 hours a day for two to three months. Pressure garments are effective for preventing hypertrophic scars, especially after burns. They must be worn for six to 12 months.
At Jaipur Hospital, keloid treatment usually takes multiple sessions over months. Most care is on an outpatient basis. Our surgical team usually uses local anaesthesia or a topical anaesthetic. Ongoing care includes pressure garments and follow-up. Steroid injections can cause skin thinning and small visible blood vessels.
In one study, skin thinning occurred in 44% and small visible blood vessels in 50% of people given triamcinolone injections. A condition called Cushing's syndrome has been reported after steroid injections into the scar. Regular follow-up helps your surgeon recognise and manage complications.
Surgery is an option for some keloids, but it has a high recurrence risk unless combined with another treatment. Excision alone can be followed by more aggressive regrowth in 50 per cent or more of cases in studies. For keloids on the ear, surgery with steroid injections around the operation is often used as a first treatment.
In one review, recurrent ear keloids were usually treated with surgery and radiotherapy. In one study of recurrent ear keloids, excision with steroid injections before, during and after surgery led to recurrence in five of 52 ears (9.6%). This low rate may be related to the steroid injections or to the limited follow-up of 6 to 24 months.
Radiotherapy after surgery does not make recurrence impossible; one study reported 27% recurrence. A meta-analysis found no significant difference in recurrence between radiotherapy and steroid injections added to surgery. Keloid surgery can be done under local anaesthesia. Combining surgery, steroid injections and silicone sheeting has been studied.
In one report, this combination had a recurrence rate of 12.5% after 13 months. Your surgeon will advise which option suits you. The typical range in India is ₹10,000 to ₹80,000; because treatment usually takes multiple sessions, the number of sessions changes the estimate, so ask us for an estimate.
Preparing for keloid treatment at Jaipur Hospital
Keloid treatment at Jaipur Hospital is planned for your scar and your history. At your first visit, your doctor will look at the scar, measure it and ask how long it has been present. Keloids in studies have ranged from 0.8 cm to 4 cm across, so the size is recorded before any plan is made.
Tell your doctor about every medicine you take, and about any steroid injection into the scar in the past six months. In one surgical study, people who had a keloid steroid injection within the previous six months were not included, so this history matters when your plan is chosen.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding. These were reasons for exclusion in a study of keloid injections.
Most keloid care is given through outpatient visits, so you can usually go home the same day. Ask our team about eating and drinking before the visit, and about any medicine you should discuss with your doctor first. They will tell you what to do for your appointment.
Bring your earlier prescriptions, reports of any previous keloid treatment, a list of your medicines, and the name of your attendant.:
- Earlier prescriptions
- Reports of any previous keloid treatment
- A list of your medicines
- The name of your attendant
If you have had surgery on the scar before, bring those records too, as repeat treatment needs a careful plan.
How keloid treatment is done
Keloid treatment is usually a combination of methods rather than one fixed plan. Your surgeon will advise which option, or which combination, suits your scar. Common options include the following.
- Intralesional steroid injection: a small amount of triamcinolone is placed into the scar. Triamcinolone is a well-established treatment for keloids and hypertrophic scars, and is often described as a first-line option.
- Surgical excision with an added treatment: the scar is removed, and steroid injections, pressure therapy or radiotherapy are added around the operation. These are common adjuvant methods used with keloid surgery. Excision on its own carries a high chance of regrowth, so it is usually combined with another treatment.
- Silicone gel sheeting: the sheet is worn over the scar and keeps it hydrated, and the scar flattens over time. To be effective it must be worn for 12 to 24 hours a day for two to three months. In studies, silicone sheeting reduced scar thickness and scar colour.
- Pressure garment therapy: steady compression is applied to the scar. Pressure dressings of 24 to 30 mm Hg are worn for six to twelve months. Pressure garments are effective for preventing hypertrophic scars, especially after burns.
Other injections, such as fluorouracil, verapamil, bleomycin and interferon alfa-2b, appear helpful for established keloids. In studies, combining triamcinolone with fluorouracil worked better than triamcinolone alone. Your surgeon will advise which suits you.
Treatment is given in multiple sessions over months. Anaesthesia is usually local or topical, and the area is numbed with an injection when a procedure is needed. You can usually go home the same day.
Risks and possible complications of keloid treatment
- 44% Skin atrophy with triamcinolone
- 50% Telangiectasia with triamcinolone
- 50 to 100% Regrowth after excision alone
- 3.8% Wound opening after ear surgery
Keloids are known to return, and no single method is accepted by all specialists as a way to remove a keloid for good. Your doctor will explain the limits of each option before you start.
Steroid injections can thin the skin and leave small visible blood vessels. In one study, skin atrophy occurred in 44 percent of people given triamcinolone and 8 percent of those given fluorouracil. Telangiectasia, the visible vessels, occurred in 50 percent and 21 percent respectively. Cushing's syndrome has been reported after intralesional triamcinolone, and children appear to be most at risk. About half of keloids are resistant to steroids.
Surgical excision on its own is often followed by more aggressive regrowth, reported in 50 to 100 percent of cases. In a trial of keloid injections, recurrence was 39.2 percent in one group and 17.5 percent in the other, and complications occurred in 24 percent and 8 percent.
Cryotherapy combined with steroid injection can cause loss of skin colour, called hypopigmentation. After ear keloid surgery in one study, healing was uneventful for all participants, but two ears, or 3.8 percent, opened partly after the stitches were removed and healed with local wound care in five more days. Keloids have high recurrence rates in general.
Recovery and aftercare after keloid treatment
Most keloid care at Jaipur Hospital is through outpatient visits. You will usually go home the same day and come back for review.
After surgery, our team will check the wound after about seven days and remove the stitches when healing looks right. You may be asked to wear a pressure garment. In studies, pressure dressings of 24 to 30 mm Hg were worn for six to twelve months. Silicone sheeting needs to be worn for 12 to 24 hours a day for two to three months.
Follow-up is part of the treatment. In one study, all patients were followed for at least six months, and the average follow-up was about 13 months. A review advised careful follow-up and patient education so that complications are found and treated early.
Call the hospital if the scar starts to rise above the level of the wound edges, or becomes thicker than the skin around it, as this can mean the keloid is returning. Also call if the wound opens, bleeds, or does not look like it is healing, or if you notice thinning or new visible vessels in the treated skin.
Bring your pressure garment and silicone sheet to follow-up visits so our team can check how you are using them.
How well keloid treatment works and how often keloids return
- 77.2% >50% scar height reduction (combination)
- 27%, 21%, about 12.5% Recurrence with radiotherapy after surgery
Results vary from person to person. The figures below come from studies of groups of patients, so they describe averages and not what will happen to you.
In a randomised study, triamcinolone and fluorouracil injections did not differ in their clinical effect on keloids. Remission at six months was 46 percent with fluorouracil and 60 percent with triamcinolone, and this difference was not statistically significant.
Combining the two did better than triamcinolone alone. Scar height fell more in the combination group, and 77.2 percent of that group reached more than 50 percent reduction in scar height, against 49.0 percent of the steroid-only group. Good to excellent results were seen in 84 percent and 68 percent respectively.
Surgery with steroid injections and silicone sheeting has been studied as a triple approach, with a 12.5 percent recurrence rate after 13 months. Adding verapamil injections to silicone sheeting reduced keloid recurrence by 90 percent at 18 months in one report.
Radiotherapy alone has been reported to succeed in 56 percent of cases, and radiotherapy after surgery in 76 percent. Even with radiotherapy around surgery, recurrence has been reported at 27 percent, 21 percent and about 12.5 percent in different studies. A meta-analysis found no significant difference in recurrence between radiotherapy and steroid injections when either was combined with surgery.
In a study of auricular keloids treated with surgery and steroid injections, recurrence was recorded in five ears, or 9.6 percent, during follow-up. The authors noted that this low figure could be linked to the steroid injections or to the limited follow-up of 6 to 24 months. Silicone gel sheeting reduced the chance of hypertrophic scarring in people prone to scarring.
Keloid treatment cost in Jaipur and insurance cover
The typical range for keloid treatment at Jaipur Hospital is ₹10,000 to ₹80,000. The final amount depends on how many sessions you need, how many scars are treated, the size of each scar, and whether your plan includes surgical excision with an added treatment such as steroids or radiotherapy. Ask us for an estimate.
Care is given through outpatient visits, so the cost is built around sessions and follow-up rather than a hospital stay. Pressure garments and silicone sheeting are used over months and form part of the ongoing cost.
Jaipur Hospital is a NABH-accredited multispeciality hospital, privately run, and was established in February 1991. It accepts RGHS, MAA Yojana, CGHS, and a panel of private insurers and TPAs. The hospital has an in-house pharmacy and an in-house diagnostic laboratory and imaging service. Bring your scheme or insurance card and ask our team to check what your plan covers before treatment starts.
