Ear Lobe Repair and Ear Reconstruction Gallery Patient 122909079

From Dr. Lampert:

This young man had large keloids of both earlobes after simple ear piercings. Here he is before and after wedge excision and injection with steroids and 5 flourouracil (aka 5FU). True keloids present as an overgrowth of scar tissue that spreads beyond the original margins or borders of the scar. This is different than a hypertrophic scar, which is a raised scar that does not extend beyond the margins. Scar formation depends on a number of variables including the mechanism and type of wound, location of injury, bacterial load, quality of wound closure, nutritional status, immune system, age and genetic makeup of the patient - to name a few! Keloids are difficult because they frequently come back. Radiation or injection with steroids or chemotherapy can help reduce recurrence. This patient had a simple ear piercing in the past and obviously has a genetic predisposition for keloids. So far after surgery, monthly injections have held the keloids in check!