Clinical Characteristics of Facial Keloids Treated With Surgical Excision Followed by Intra- and Postoperative Intralesional Steroid Injections

Background The physiopathogenesis of keloid scars is not well understood. This report aims to present the authors' experiences with facial keloids, to evaluate their treatment outcomes via a prospective study, and to identify risk factors involved in facial keloid recurrence. Methods Patients with facial keloids were treated with surgical excision followed by intra- and postoperative intralesional steroid injections at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital between July 2005 and June 2010. Of 15 keloids, 8 (53.3%) had previously been treated unsuccessfully at other hospitals. The follow-up period was 18 months, and therapeutic outcomes were evaluated based on recurrence or nonrecurrence. Results The study evaluated 17 facial keloids in 15 patients. The overall recurrence-free rate was 76.5% after a follow-up period of 18 months. The authors hypothesized that the recurrence of keloids on the face is associated with both previous treatment and anatomic location. Conclusions The authors' protocol resulted in successful outcomes for the treatment of facial keloids. Patients with a history of previous treatment and keloids in the perioral region should be monitored closely for signs of recurrence and managed cautiously during treatment.