Every type of scar has its own form 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.

Luckily, there are other forms of keloid removal that have proven to be quite successful and less invasive than surgery. 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 any doctor will offer to treat keloids are steroid injections. These injections are used when trying to flatten scar tissue which will help make keloid scars less noticeable, nevertheless, the flattened keloid will still have a different feel than regular skin surrounding it.

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 your situation and then determine the best course of action.

Compression therapy is another type of treatment for keloids and 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.

You can usually find these sheets at your local drugstore. Just as with any other type of bandage you will need to cut it and fit it to the affected area. This is a good alternative for keloid treatment.

Another effective keloid scar treatment procedure is the application of laser therapy. In this case, pulsed dye lasers are used to 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 form of treatment uses liquid nitrogen to flatten the keloids. Although it has proven very effective in treating keloids, cryotherapy can also darken the skin surrounding the scar.

Remember that it is important to consult your doctor about all of your possibilities. If surgery is a viable option for you, then it is quite possible that it can be combined with one or more of the previously mentioned alternatives. However, if you're not willing to undergo surgery be assured that there are other less invasive alternatives out there.