Keloid scars are one of the most difficult types of scar tissue to treat because even through surgical keloid removal there will always be a high probability of recurrence. This is why you need to try all non-surgical options before submitting yourself to surgery.

Luckily, there are several non surgical options to help you deal 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 or 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. Keloids will become less apparent, but they will still feel different from the surrounding tissue.

Steroid injections can be used at any time before, during, or after surgery. When injections are used this way in keloid scar removal surgery, it can hinder the development of new keloids. The doctor will evaluate the situation and 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. The compression devices and garments used are usually custom fitted and have to be worn for 24 hours a day and sometimes 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 OTC and can be cut down to size so that they fit the size of the scar being treated. Despite their success rate, they aren't as effective as compression therapy.

Laser therapy can also be implemented as an effective keloid scar treatment. In this case, pulsed dye lasers are used to 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 are still uncertain about which treatment is right for you, consult with your doctor about the right type of laser therapy for you.

Finally, cryotherapy can be used to treat smaller scars and scars that are in areas that are difficult to compress. With this type of treatment liquid nitrogen is used to flatten the affected tissue, but be wary because it can make the treated area look darker than the surrounding tissue.