sinking in the middle of the larger keloid.

Injections (with lidocaine/prilocaine cream) & medical tape

The back and forth struggle is real. I've been seeing a plastic surgeon consistently for 6 months. Every 6 weeks, I've been getting steroid injections. It's a slow and painful process, but I'm seeing and feeling the difference it's making. My keloids aren't as itchy. They've become softer as well.

My doctor puts a topical anesthetic cream on scar before she injects it with triamcinolone acetonide (steroid). It burns like hell, but the cream helps a little bit. Before, we would inject the anesthetic into my keloids at the same time as the steroid, and although that was less painful the scar was getting less medicine. If you have keloids, you know how hard and robust keloids are. It's very difficult to penetrate  even with a needle so there's little room for the steroid to squeeze it's way in. By using the topical anesthetic cream, we're leaving more room for the steroid to make it's way in the keloid (because that's the good stuff---the more the merrier especially with a difficult scare like mine).

Here's a picture of what the cream:

LIDOCAINE and PRILOCAINE Cream (it's the same stuff dentists use)

I had to wait 10 minutes for the numbing to take effect.

40 mg! That's the strong stuff. 

My doctor also prescribed a medical tape to put over my scars. I change them twice a day. Once in the morning, and then again before I go to sleep. It's annoying but I'm willing to try anything...

I'm back...

Hello.

It's been about a year since my surgery, and my scar is back :(

Super itchy. Super shiny. Super painful and annoying as ever.

When I graduated from college, I lost my health insurance and could no longer pay for my doctor visits.
Because I could not afford it, I stopped my scar treatments and follow-up appointments.

I came back to blogger, and was very inspired by my commenters.
There is so little research and information about keloids out there, but this also means that there are A LOT of people out there who want to know more about keloids! Because of the responses that I've gotten from sharing my story...I am inspired to keep sharing. We deserve it.

If there is a treatment that works, I want to share it. If there is a treatment that hasn't worked, I want to share it.

Thank you for sharing your story and for reading mine.

Healing Well

Morning Before Surgery:

One Week After Surgery:

Today:

Hey guys!
So, as you can tell from the picture, I am healing very well!
Because my skin is so acne prone, my doctor prescribed me clindamycin phosphate topical lotion so that I won't develop any black heads in my surgery scar. On my last visit, I had all my stitches removed and the doctor noticed that I had developed a black head in my scar. She was able to removed it, but she wanted me to apply the clindamycin lotion on my scar 2 times a day so that the healing process would be 100%. In my opinion, it looks great!

I am also starting to use Scarguard MD which is supposed to diminish the appearance of scars. You can learn about them here: http://www.scarguard.com/
They are not paying me to put their name out there or anything, and to be honest, I don't even know if it works. But I'll keep you updated, and if it works for me, then I'll definitely let you know.

One stitch removed

Post Surgery

I changed my bandages yesterday morning.

Notice that the smaller keloid is still there. This is because the Doctor didn't want to remove the scar on the same day because it is so close to the other keloid that was removed. Because my skin is being pulled together to heal, the Doctor didn't want to risk my stitches falling apart by pulling more skin in the opposite direction. Nonetheless, the smaller keloid will be treated once the cut from the first surgery is healed.

I can't wait until my chest is completely healed. I bought my first v-neck in 5 years today. I can't wait to rock it. I can't wait to wear lower cut shirts. I've been deprived of high collars and scarves for way too long.

It is late, and I am a bit sleepy.
Returning to work tomorrow so I better be heading to bed.

Goodnight reader.

Keloid Scar Removal Surgery

Hey guys,
So the last time I was on here, I told you all that I had an appointment with the Plastics Surgery Department. The Doctor took a look at my keloid, and I explained to her that I was being seen for the same keloids since 2010 and getting treated with steroid injections with no progress or results. She suggested that we try a different form of treatment, that is surgery. So, a week later I was booked to see her again for the removal of my scar.

I have to admit, I was super nervous. I've read about how other people have their scars removed and it comes back bigger. I don't really know what is going to happen, but I can only wait and see. The keloid was removed Friday morning, and it is now Sunday night. I am still recovering and the bandage has not yet been removed. I haven't seen what my chest looks like.


I'll be sure to keep you updated once the bandages are removed.

I'll be going back in one week to have my stitches removed (and to get a steroid injection so that my scar will not grow back). Then I'll go back again for a check up.

Anyway, here is a picture of my scar the morning before it was removed. Hopefully, the next picture will be of my keloid free chest (and bad ass surgery scar)!