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Every type of scar will require a special type of treatment. For the most part, they can be treated with surgery and laser therapy. However, keloid scars are more complicated as they tend to grow indefinitely and recur after surgical excision.

Fortunately, there are other forms of keloid removal that are less invasive than surgery but very effective. Depending on the size and location of the keloid you can either use one of these procedure to treat the scar or a combination of them. Here are some alternatives you can look at.

Usually the first option your doctor will give you are steroid injections. These injections are used to help flatten scar tissue and make keloid scars less noticeable, however, the flattened keloid will often feel different than the regular skin.

Steroid injections can be used at any time before, during, or after surgery. When injections are used in this manner, especially when undergoing keloid scar removal surgery, then keloid recurrence can be greatly hindered. The doctor will evaluate the situation and determine the best course of action.

Compression therapy is also a common type of treatment for keloids and other raised scars. This type of treatment is one of the oldest scar removal alternatives. Compression garments or devices are often custom fitted and should be worn for 24 hours a day and 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.

These sheets are readily available in your drugstore. They are very effective and a good alternative for keloid treatment. In fact, usage is quite simple. All you need to do is cut the sheet down to size so that it will fit the affected area.

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 can also help the redness that is common with most keloid scars.

Smaller keloids that have formed due to piercings can be treated with cryotherapy. This type of treatment freezes the keloid scar using liquid nitrogen to help flatten its appearance. Even though it is very successful in treating keloids, cryotherapy can also darken the skin surrounding the keloid.

Remember that it is important that you consult with your doctor to find out what possibilities you do or don't have. If surgery is an option, it is quite possible that it will be combined with one or more of the previously mentioned alternatives. However, if surgery doesn't seem like your alternative, keep looking, because there is a viable treatment out there.