Keloid Removal
Keloid Removal Treatment for Hypertrophic Scars
What is keloid?
Keloids form when overzealous skin cells grow in disorganised bundles of protein as your body recovers from the wound. When the healing mechanism in your skin becomes excessive after an injury, an overgrown scar develops, causing it to become raised. Sometimes, these keloids can grow bigger and wider than the original injury. The problem can range from being very mild, to being more serious, causing discomfort and inconvenience. Keloids are not common, but are more likely to form in people with dark skin tone.
What Causes Keloids?
1. Skin Trauma and Injury
Any injury to the skin can trigger keloid formation, including cuts, burns, acne scars, piercings, tattoos, and surgical incisions. Even minor wounds – such as insect bites or scratches – may sometimes result in keloids in predisposed individuals.
2. Genetic Predisposition
Keloids tend to run in families. People with a genetic tendency toward abnormal collagen production face a higher risk of developing them.
3. Skin Type and Age
Those with darker skin tones (Fitzpatrick skin types III–VI) have a higher likelihood of forming keloids. They also occur more frequently between the ages of 10 and 30, when collagen activity is most active.
4. Hormonal Factors
Hormonal fluctuations, puberty, and pregnancy may influence how aggressively scars form and heal.
Can Keloids Be Prevented?
While some individuals may always remain prone to keloids, preventive steps can help reduce the risk. Avoid unnecessary skin trauma like piercings or tattoos if you have a known tendency to develop keloids. Treat acne early, protect healing wounds, and follow medical aftercare recommendations closely to minimise abnormal scar formation.
Can Keloids Go Away On Its Own?
Unfortunately, keloids are permanent scars that won’t go away on its own. In fact, it may continue to grow for weeks and months. They may eventually stop growing at some point, but they do not fade away or subside on its own.
How Are Keloids Treated?
The eventual goal of keloid treatment is to flatten, soften and shrink the raised scar tissue. It is challenging to treat because keloids can sometimes come back after treatment. Lasers are commonly used to flatten the scar. Corticosteroid injections are an option to effectively shrink the scar. At Radium Medical Aesthetics, we device a 3-step treatment protocol for treating keloid scar:
CORTICOSTEROID Injected directly into the scar to flatten the keloid.
LASER TREATMENT A gentle laser is applied to the scar to reduce skin redness and inflammation of the skin. It also helps to reduce blood flow to the scar tissue.
BOTULINUM TOXIN Micro-injections of botulinum toxin are administered around the keloid to decrease the muscular tensile force of the scar and also inhibit the modulation collagen deposition and inflammatory cytokines.
How Many Sessions of Keloid Treatments Do I need?
It depends on several factors such as the size and location of the keloid. It also depends on how the scar responds to the treatment. In general, scar treatments take several months to see visible results. You need to work closely with your doctor to discuss and work out a treatment plan.
Typical Cost of Keloid Treatment in Singapore
The cost of keloid treatment in Singapore varies widely depending on the size of the keloid, its location, and the type of treatment required.
For most patients, corticosteroid injections are one of the most common first-line options, and these typically cost between S$150 and S$300 per session.
Laser treatments such as vascular or fractional CO2 lasers are also frequently used to reduce redness, flatten raised tissue, and improve texture; these generally range from S$200 to S$500 per session, depending on the device and number of passes performed.
Botulinum toxin treatment may cost between S$300 and S$1,000 per session, depending on how large the scar tissue is.
Cryotherapy, which is often recommended for small keloids or earlobe keloids, may cost between S$250 and S$600 per session. In more severe or persistent cases, surgical removal may be necessary, and prices usually start from around S$800, with additional costs for follow-up injections or laser therapy to prevent recurrence.
Because most keloids require multiple sessions and continued maintenance to minimise regrowth, the total cost will depend on the treatment plan recommended by your doctor.
Benefits
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Reduce appearance of keloid on your body -
Soften and shrink the scar tissue
