PSC Case Files – Plastic Surgery to Treat Keloidal Scars

In this PSC Case Files, board certified plastic surgeons Dr. Anu Bajaj of Oklahoma City and Dr. Raja Mohan of Arlington, Texas discuss a tricky case presented to Dr. Bajaj featuring severe keloidal scars. This type of scar is raised significantly above the skin into a bulky mass, an annoyance to patients aesthetically and also large enough to be seen through clothes. This “printing” of scars through clothing can be a significant hindrance to self-esteem, as the scars are seen even when “hidden” behind clothing.

Even though challenging, Dr. Bajaj details her approach to reducing the three dimensional aspect of the scars in order to achieve a smooth result. While the visible nature of the scars can be reduced significantly, there will always be evidence, as with any scar. Dr. Bajaj notes that while this is true, the benefits from making the scar 2 dimensional to be hidden behind clothes provided an immense rejuvenation to her patient’s self-esteem and ensuing well-being.