Scars, keloids and melanin-rich skin

Most people who come to the scar clinic on Wednesdays have been told one of two things: that nothing can be done, or that a quick removal will fix it. Neither is quite true, and the space between them is where careful care lives.

Keloids grow beyond the edge of the original wound. They are more common in people with deeper skin tones and can run in families. They often itch, and they can return after removal, sometimes larger than before.

What we plan differently

For melanin-rich skin we place incisions in natural creases wherever we can, close wounds with as little tension as possible, and plan scar care before the operation, not after. For anyone with a keloid history, we ask about every scar you have, including ear piercings and vaccination marks.

A keloid removal is not one operation. It is one operation and a year of care.

The year after

Our keloid programme pairs surgery with pressure dressings or earrings, silicone sheets and monthly review visits for the first three months, then at six and twelve months. Some people also need injections at the scar, which we explain at consultation. The programme lowers the chance of return, but no clinic can promise a keloid will not come back.

What we ask of you

Wear the pressure or silicone as advised, keep new scars out of the sun for a year, and come to the reviews, even when things look fine. Early signs of return are much easier to treat than a full regrowth.

If you have a scar that worries you, the open consultation is the right place to start. Every result is personal and no outcome is promised. Surgery carries real risks, which your surgeon explains in person before you decide anything.