Keloid scars are the most difficult types of scar tissue to treat because they tend to recur even after having undergone surgical keloid removal. For this reason, the doctor will always suggest that you exhaust all non-surgical options before trying surgery.

Fortunately, there are several non-surgical options for dealing with keloid scars. Any one of these can be used on their own or in combination with each other as well as with surgery. Non surgical alternatives include:

*Corticosteroid injections, also known as steroid injections

*Compression Therapy and Compression Devices

*Silicone Sheets

*Laser Therapy

*Cryotherapy

One of the most common forms of keloid treatment are corticosteroid injects. These injections can help flatten out the scar tissue, however, even though keloids do become less apparent they will still feel different from the surrounding tissue.

You can use steroid injections before, during, and after surgery as well. When injections are used this way in keloid scar removal surgery, it can hinder the development of new keloids. The doctor will evaluate your situation and then determine the best course of action.

Compression therapy can be used on burn scars and any type of raised scars. This form of treatment has been around for decades. Compression devices or garments are usually custom fitted and have to be worn for 24 hours a day for up to a year or more.

Other elements used, such as silicone sheets, are used to help flatten all types of scars, including keloids and other hypertrophic scars. If you are undergoing this type of treatment you should be wearing these sheets for a few hours a day for several weeks.

Silicone sheets are sold over the counter and can be cut to fit the size of the scar. Despite their success rate, they are slightly less effective than compression therapy, which is an older type of treatment that is still used to deal with keloid scars.

Laser therapy can also be an effective keloid scar treatment procedure. This type of treatment used pulsed dye lasers to help flatten keloids. Laser therapy has also been known to help reduce redness that is common with most keloid scars.

Carbon dioxide lasers can also be used to treat keloids and to help reduce the recurrence of keloid formation. If you feel uncertain about which type of treatment you need, consult with your doctor.

Finally, cryotherapy is another option that can be used to treat smaller scars and scars that are in areas that are difficult to compress. In this case liquid nitrogen is used to flatten the affected tissue but not without side effects such as a darkening of the treated area.