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Keloid scars are the most difficult types of scar tissue to treat because they tend to recur even after having undergone surgical keloid removal. This is why you need to try all non-surgical options before submitting yourself to surgery.

Fortunately, there are several non surgical procedures that you can undergo to help treat keloid scars. Any one of those procedures can be used on its own or in combination with each other as well as with surgery. If you're wondering what those non surgical alternatives are, here is a short list:

*Corticosteroid injections, also known as cortisone

*Compression Therapy or Compression Devices

*Silicone Sheets

*Laser Therapy

*Cryotherapy

Corticosteroid injects are one of the most common forms of keloid treatment. These injections can help flatten out the scar tissue. Keloids will become less apparent, but they will still feel different from the surrounding tissue.

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

Compression therapy is another type of treatment that has been used for decades to treat burn scars and other types of raised scars. 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. Silicone sheets should be worn 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. Although this type of treatment has a high success rate, they are slightly less effective than another type of treatment - compression therapy.

Laser therapy can also be an effective keloid scar treatment procedure. In this case, pulsed dye lasers are used to flatten keloids. In fact, the use of laser therapy has proven so beneficial that it can also help reduce the redness that is common in most keloid scars.

Carbon dioxide lasers can also be used to treat keloids. This treatment is highly successful and can also help reduce the recurrence of keloid formation. Consult with your doctor about the right type of laser therapy for you.

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.