Eye and Nose Surgery: What if You Have Keloid-Prone Skin?

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This is Vibe Plastic Surgery.

Some people find that their scars remain unusually large after an injury.

In such cases, many often assume that their skin type is ‘keloid-prone’.

If you believe you have keloid skin, you might find it difficult to decide whether plastic surgery is a viable option for you.

Today, Vibe will explain this topic in detail.

What is a Keloid?

A keloid refers to a phenomenon where a scar proliferates excessively beyond the original wound, to the point of being pathologically problematic.

Generally, for those with a keloid constitution, you can think of it as a situation where keloid scarring occurs when two factors—the constitution and inflammatory causes—coincide.

Hypertrophic Scars vs. Keloids: What is the Difference?

Most people who believe they have keloids actually have ‘hypertrophic scars’.

A hypertrophic scar means exactly what it sounds like: a scar that becomes thick and enlarged. In other words, the scar remains larger than the normal range.

When we say a scar is simply ‘prominent’, we are usually referring to a hypertrophic scar, but many people mistakenly misidentify this as a keloid.

While plastic surgery specialists can distinguish between a hypertrophic scar and a keloid by sight, it is difficult for the general public to tell them apart.

Actual diagnosis is made based on histological and pathological findings by taking a small tissue sample from the scar, so it is natural to be confused.

Common Locations for Keloids?

Even for those diagnosed with keloids, it does not mean that large scars will form across the entire body. There are specific areas where they frequently occur.

Generally, they are localized to areas such as the earlobes, the front of the neck, the chest, and the abdomen.

Keloid Scars in Eye and Nose Surgery?

Fortunately, there are almost no reported cases of keloid scarring related to eye and nose surgeries, which are the areas of greatest interest.

Therefore, even if you are unsure whether you have keloid skin, you do not need to worry excessively about scarring when it comes to common eye and nose procedures.

How are Keloid Scars Treated?

If a keloid scar does form, it is not always removed surgically right away. First, injections containing steroids are used to reduce the size as much as possible.

However, if a noticeable scar remains and causes distress even after reducing the growing keloid to its smallest possible size, surgical removal may be performed.

Causes of Hypertrophic Scars?

There are factors that can trigger excessive scar formation:

• When the surgical site is pulled with excessive tension
• When surgery is performed under unhygienic conditions

Since there are various factors like these, you do not need to worry too much about hypertrophic scars if the surgery is performed while avoiding these issues.

Among those who think they have keloids, very few have actually been clinically diagnosed with them. Therefore, if you are planning eye or nose surgery but are worried about keloids, please visit Vibe Plastic Surgery for a professional consultation.