Keloid Scar Treatment in Miami, FL
Flatter, Calmer Scars Through Targeted Care
Keloid scar treatment addresses raised, firm scar tissue that grows beyond the original wound, often following a piercing, acne, minor skin injury, or surgery — a pattern Chloe Goldman, MD, FAAD, has observed, as certain skin types carry a higher likelihood of this type of scarring. Providers at Goldman Dermatology of Miami treat keloids with various injections, excision, or a combination of both. They may refer patients for radiation treatment in certain cases, thereby offering a multimodal approach.
Why Keloids Form
Keloids develop when the skin overproduces collagen during healing, resulting in scar tissue that extends beyond the original wound’s borders. Ear keloid treatment and keloid removal after piercing are common cases Dr. Chloe Goldman sees. However, keloids can also follow acne, cuts, or surgical incisions elsewhere on the body. Some skin types are more prone to keloid formation than others, and a personal or family history of keloids raises the likelihood of developing one after any new skin injury. Certain anatomical sites are also more prone to keloids.
What Is the Difference Between a Keloid and a Hypertrophic Scar?
Keloid
Grows beyond the edges of the original wound into surrounding, uninjured skin, can keep growing well after the wound has closed, and rarely resolves without treatment.
Hypertrophic scar
Stays within the edges of the original wound.
Treatment Options
Surgical excision removes the scar tissue directly and is reserved for keloids that are often bulky, protruding, or extending on a stalk, as is often the case when the keloid is secondary to an ear piercing. Dr. Goldman often combines injections with surgical removal to decrease risk of keloid recurrence following scar-reduction treatment.
Who Is Prone to Keloids
Patients with a personal history of keloids elsewhere on the body, a family history of keloid scarring, or darker skin tones are statistically more likely to develop keloids after a new wound or piercing. Knowing this risk in advance allows Dr. Goldman to counsel patients on prevention strategies before a planned piercing or procedure, rather than addressing a keloid after it’s already formed.
Expected Timeline
Steroid Injections
Require multiple visits spaced several weeks apart, with gradual flattening and alleviation of symptoms (ie pain or itch) over that time rather than a single dramatic change.
Surgical Excision
A single in-office procedure, sometimes paired with post-surgical injections to reduce the chance the keloid returns at the same site.
Aftercare Following Keloid Treatment
After Injections
Patients typically resume normal activity immediately, with no downtime between sessions.
After Surgical Excision
Keeping the site clean and free of tension for the first few weeks supports better healing and reduces the risk of recurrence.
Close Follow-Up Visits
FAQ
Why do ear piercing scars like this form so often in patients?
Ear piercings create a small, controlled wound that some skin types heal with an overproduction of scar tissue, making keloid removal after piercing a relatively common procedure that Dr. Chloe Goldman performs at Goldman Dermatology of Miami.
How many steroid injections are needed?
Most cases need a series of injection sessions spaced several weeks apart over multiple office visits, with the total number of sessions depending on the scar’s size, age, location on the body, and how well it responds along the way. Larger, firmer scars typically require more sessions than a smaller keloid. Often patients report that symptoms improve earlier in the treatment course before the keloid flattens entirely.
Can this type of scar come back after surgical removal?
Yes, this type of scarring can recur after surgical excision, especially without additional supportive care afterward. This is why Dr. Goldman often follows surgical removal with a series of steroid injections to help lower that recurrence risk over time or refers patients for radiation therapy in the excised area.
Does insurance cover this treatment in Miami?
This type of raised scar treatment is often considered medically necessary rather than purely cosmetic, so that it may be covered by insurance in many cases. Goldman Dermatology of Miami can help confirm the specific details of your plan’s coverage before your treatment.
Is treatment permanent?
Raised scar treatment can flatten the scar and meaningfully improve its appearance over time. Moreover, treatments can reduce accompanying symptoms of itch or pain. However, ongoing monitoring is still recommended. Sometimes the raised scar and symptoms slowly reappear over time, so monitoring and potential maintenance injections may be necessary.
Dealing with a keloid, especially from a piercing?
Schedule a consultation for keloid treatment with our providers at Goldman Dermatology of Miami in Miami, FL.