DrPlus
Doctor examining a raised keloid scar before removal at DrPlus Singapore
Doctor-Led Clinic

DrPlus Singapore · Scar Care

Keloid Removal in Singapore

A keloid is a scar that didn't know when to stop — and cutting it out alone usually brings it back larger. Doctor-led removal flattens, softens and fades the scar with an injection-led protocol built for your skin. WhatsApp a photo to start.

  • Doctor-led scar assessment
  • Injection-led combination protocols
  • Honest recurrence expectations
  • Results vary by individual
Medically reviewed by Dr Kenneth Lee, Medical DirectorLast reviewed July 2026

— Who this page is for

Who this page is for

Keloids behave differently from ordinary scars — they grow beyond the original wound and often itch or ache. Removal works, but it is a managed process, and the right protocol depends on your scar's age, size, and site. If any of these sound familiar, WhatsApp a photo and we will tell you honestly what removal would involve.

  • A raised scar that keeps growing

    A scar from surgery, acne, a piercing, or a vaccination that has thickened, spread beyond the original wound, or become itchy or tender.

  • Earlobe keloids from piercings

    One of the most common sites — and one where combined treatment, and in selected cases an excision-plus-injection pathway, matters most to prevent regrowth.

  • Chest and shoulder keloids from acne

    Acne-prone areas with high skin tension are keloid hotspots — often multiple scars needing one coordinated removal plan rather than piecemeal treatment.

  • Treated before, but it came back

    Keloids recur after single-method treatment more often than clinics admit — combination protocols exist for exactly this reason.

  • Itch and pain, not just appearance

    Many keloids ache, itch, or catch on clothing. Injection therapy often relieves those symptoms early, well before the visible flattening catches up.

  • You searched “keloid removal” expecting surgery

    Good instinct to check first: cutting a keloid out without follow-up treatment sees it return, often larger. Real removal is a protocol — this page explains what that involves.

— What this involves

What “keloid removal” actually involves

First, the honest version of “keloid removal”: a keloid is not a growth sitting on top of your skin that can simply be cut away. It is scar tissue your own healing produced — and if it is removed with a blade alone, the wound heals the same way it did the first time, frequently producing a larger keloid. Doctor-led removal therefore means a protocol that flattens, softens, and fades the scar — and keeps it from coming back — rather than a single-visit excision.

Why keloids happen: when skin heals, fibroblast cells produce collagen to close the wound — and in keloid-prone skin they keep producing it long after the wound has closed, building a raised, firm scar that spreads beyond the original injury. Genetics play a large role: keloid tendency runs in families and is more common in Asian and darker skin types, which is why prevention advice matters as much as treatment.

The workhorse of keloid removal is intralesional injection therapy: corticosteroid placed directly into the scar tissue by a doctor to slow collagen production, so the keloid gradually flattens and softens over a series of sessions, typically spaced four to six weeks apart. Itch and tenderness often improve within the first session or two — earlier than the visible change.

For redness, surface texture, and stubborn scars, injections are combined with laser treatment and, in selected cases, other modalities. Certain keloids — classically the mushroom-shaped earlobe keloid from a piercing — may suit surgical excision, but only with adjuvant injection therapy planned around the procedure, because excision alone is how keloids come back larger. Your doctor maps the realistic protocol, including maintenance, at your assessment.

What determines the cost? The number and size of keloids, the scar's age and site, the modalities your protocol needs, and the number of sessions. We do not publish prices — WhatsApp us a photo of the scar and we can usually outline what removal would involve, followed by a personalised written quote at your assessment.

Doctor assessing a keloid scar during a removal consultation at DrPlus Singapore

— On the day

What a keloid removal session looks like

Keloid removal is a course of short clinic visits at Tanjong Pagar or East Coast rather than one long procedure. Here is the typical sequence once you arrive — exact timing depends on how many scars are treated and whether laser is part of your protocol.

  1. Doctor examining a raised keloid scar during assessment at DrPlus

    Step 1

    Scar assessment

    Your doctor examines the scar — its age, size, thickness, and site — confirms it is a keloid rather than a hypertrophic scar or a growth, and explains the protocol and realistic expectations before you decide anything.

    Duration:
    About 10–15 minutes
    Sensation:
    Visual and tactile examination — no discomfort
  2. Doctor performing an intralesional keloid injection at DrPlus

    Step 2

    Intralesional injection

    Corticosteroid is injected directly into the scar tissue with a fine needle — dosed and placed by the doctor so the keloid flattens without thinning the surrounding skin. Numbing options are available for sensitive sites.

    Duration:
    A few minutes per keloid
    Sensation:
    Brief pressure and stinging at each injection point
  3. Laser treatment used alongside keloid injections at DrPlus

    Step 3

    Adjunct laser, when indicated

    Where redness or surface texture needs addressing, laser treatment is layered into the same protocol — commonly for older keloids or once flattening is underway. Not every scar needs it; your doctor advises based on response.

    Duration:
    Usually 10–20 minutes when included
    Sensation:
    Warm snapping sensation over the treated area
  4. Doctor discussing a keloid maintenance plan with a patient at DrPlus

    Step 4

    Review & maintenance plan

    You leave with aftercare guidance and a scheduled review, typically four to six weeks later. Progress is compared at each visit, and the maintenance plan guards against regrowth once flattening is achieved.

    Duration:
    About 5–10 minutes
    Sensation:
    Mild soreness at injection points as the visit ends

— What to expect

From WhatsApp photo to a flatter scar

The pathway is designed so you understand the protocol before anything is injected — and so a photo message is enough to start, whichever of our Singapore clinics you choose.

  1. WhatsApp a photo

    Send a clear, well-lit photo of the scar — one straight-on and one from an angle — plus how long it has been growing and whether it itches or hurts. A doctor reviews it and replies with a preliminary view, usually within minutes during clinic hours.

  2. In-clinic scar assessment

    Your doctor confirms the scar is a keloid, maps a protocol matched to its age, size, and site, sets honest expectations about flattening and recurrence, and gives you a personalised written quote before anything proceeds.

  3. Treatment sessions

    Injection sessions run four to six weeks apart, with laser layered in where indicated. Itch and tenderness usually ease first; visible flattening and softening build gradually across the course.

  4. Maintenance & prevention

    Once the scar has flattened, reviews taper off — but keloid-prone skin stays keloid-prone. You leave with a practical prevention plan for future piercings, surgery, and acne so the next keloid never forms.

Consultation pathway for keloid removal at DrPlus Singapore

What progress typically looks like

After each session

Mild soreness or slight swelling at the injection points is common for a day or two. Desk work is fine the same day; there is no wound to dress after injection-only sessions.

Weeks 1–2

Itch and tenderness are often the first things to improve — many patients notice the scar calming down before it visibly changes shape.

Sessions 2–4

Flattening and softening become visible and build with each session. Small, younger keloids respond faster; large, old scars need patience and sometimes added modalities.

Months 3–6+

Colour and texture continue settling after the scar has flattened. Maintenance reviews guard against regrowth — the step most single-visit treatments skip, and the reason they fail.

Progress varies by the keloid's age, size, thickness, site, and your skin's healing tendency. Your doctor tracks change against photographs at each review so improvement is measured, not imagined.

— Why DrPlus

Why patients choose DrPlus for keloid removal

Keloids punish shortcuts — a managed, doctor-led protocol is what actually changes them.

Doctor-administered injections

Intralesional therapy dosed and placed by a physician — precision matters for flattening the scar without thinning the surrounding skin.

Combination protocols

Injection, laser, and adjunct options combined by evidence — because single-method keloid treatment recurs.

Honest recurrence talk

You hear the real recurrence picture and the maintenance plan upfront, not after the scar returns.

Prevention counselling

If you are keloid-prone, you learn how to manage future piercings, surgery, and acne so you never grow the next one.

Dr Kenneth Lee — Medical Director at DrPlus Aesthetic Clinic Singapore

Ready to discuss your skin?

Book a doctor-led assessment tailored to your concerns.

— Fees & quotes

What determines the fee — and how to get a quote

We do not publish a fixed price list because every keloid is different. The quote depends on how many scars you want treated, their size, age, and site, the modalities your protocol needs, and the number of sessions across the course.

The fastest start: WhatsApp us a clear photo of the scar. We can usually indicate what removal would involve, then confirm a personalised written quote at your assessment at Tanjong Pagar or East Coast, with no obligation to proceed.

  • Number and size of keloids to treat
  • The scar's age, thickness, and body site
  • Modalities your protocol needs — injections alone or combined with laser
  • Number of sessions across the course
  • Whether an excision-plus-adjuvant pathway is indicated

— Our Singapore clinics

Three Singapore clinics, one doctor-led standard

Consultations and treatments are available at all three clinics — choose whichever is more convenient: the Tanjong Pagar CBD, Katong on the East Coast, or the Novena medical district.

Tanjong Pagar / CBD

Dr Plus Aesthetics Clinic Singapore (Tanjong Pagar)

160 Robinson Road #03-10, SBF Center
Singapore 068914

About a three-minute walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT (East–West Line); the building has a carpark.

East Coast / Katong

Dr Plus Aesthetics Clinic (East Coast)

66 East Coast Road #03-05, The Flow Mall
Singapore 428778

A short walk from Marine Parade MRT (Thomson–East Coast Line); The Flow Mall has a carpark.

Novena

Dr Plus Aesthetics Clinic (Novena)

10 Sinaran Drive #10-30, Novena Medical Centre
Singapore 307506

A short sheltered walk from Novena MRT (North–South Line); Novena Medical Centre has a carpark.

— FAQ

Common questions

Honest answer: keloids are managed and substantially improved rather than erased. Injection-led protocols can flatten, soften, and fade a keloid dramatically and relieve itch and pain — but simply cutting a keloid out without follow-up treatment sees it return, often larger. That is why removal is a protocol, not a one-off procedure.

No — and this is the most important thing to understand before booking anywhere. Excision alone re-injures keloid-prone skin, and the scar frequently regrows larger than the original. Doctor-led removal means injection-led treatment to flatten and soften the scar, with surgery reserved for selected cases — such as narrow-based earlobe keloids — and always paired with adjuvant injections.

Yes — that is the recommended first step. Send a clear, well-lit photo straight-on and one from an angle, and mention how long the scar has been growing and whether it itches or hurts. A doctor can usually give a preliminary view of what removal would involve; the definitive protocol and written quote follow your in-clinic assessment.

Injecting into firm scar tissue is briefly uncomfortable — most patients describe pressure and stinging for a few seconds per injection point. Numbing options are available for sensitive sites. Sessions are short, and many patients find the itch relief over the following weeks well worth it.

Most keloids need a series of injection sessions spaced four to six weeks apart, with visible flattening building gradually. Small, young keloids respond faster; large, old ones take longer and may need laser added. Your doctor estimates a realistic course at your assessment and reviews progress at each visit.

Symptoms usually improve first — itch and tenderness often ease within the first session or two. Visible flattening and softening typically become apparent over the following sessions and build across the course. Progress is compared against photographs at each review so change is measured, not guessed.

Earlobe keloids are among the most treatable — and the one site where surgical excision is most often appropriate, because many grow on a narrow base. Even then, excision is paired with adjuvant injection therapy around the procedure, since removal without follow-up is how earlobe keloids return larger. Re-piercing is discussed honestly as part of the plan.

A hypertrophic scar stays within the boundary of the original wound and often flattens somewhat on its own over time; a keloid grows beyond the wound's borders and keeps growing. The distinction matters because protocols and expectations differ — and it is one of the first things the doctor confirms at assessment.

Recurrence is the central challenge of keloid care, which is why single-method treatment so often disappoints. Combination protocols with a maintenance phase exist precisely to keep the scar flat once it has responded. Your doctor gives you the honest recurrence picture for your specific scar — including which sites and scar types need closer follow-up.

Largely, yes, with planning: avoiding non-essential piercings and tattoos in high-risk areas, treating acne early so lesions never scar, and telling any surgeon about your keloid tendency so wounds are managed proactively. Prevention counselling is part of the protocol, not an afterthought.

We do not publish prices because the plan depends on the number, size, and age of your keloids and the sessions your protocol needs. WhatsApp us a photo and we can outline what removal would involve; a personalised written quote follows your assessment.

We see patients at SBF Center, 160 Robinson Road #03-10, in the Tanjong Pagar CBD (call +65 8851 9547), The Flow Mall, 66 East Coast Road #03-05, in Katong on the East Coast (call +65 8857 4917), and Novena Medical Centre, 10 Sinaran Drive #10-30, in Novena (call +65 8851 9505). All three clinics offer the same doctor-led consultations, so you can choose whichever location is more convenient.

SBF Center on Robinson Road is about a three-minute walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT (East–West Line) in the CBD, The Flow Mall on East Coast Road in Katong is a short walk from Marine Parade MRT on the Thomson–East Coast Line, and Novena Medical Centre on Sinaran Drive is a short sheltered walk from Novena MRT on the North–South Line. If you drive, all three buildings have carparks, with further public parking nearby.

Dr Kenneth Lee — Medical Director available for keloid removal questions at DrPlus Singapore

A QUICKER SCROLL

Clinic life, in short clips

Take a breather from the detail — swipe through Facebook and TikTok moments from DrPlus, then continue when you're ready to book.

— Methods compared

How keloids are removed — methods compared

There is no single universal keloid removal method — the scar's age, size, and site decide the protocol. These are the approaches commonly discussed at DrPlus; your doctor recommends a combination after examining the scar, not before.

Treatment room prepared for keloid injection and laser protocols at DrPlus Singapore

First-line

Intralesional injections

Corticosteroid injected directly into the scar tissue slows collagen production so the keloid gradually flattens and softens over a course of sessions.

  • Doctor-dosed and placed for precision
  • Sessions typically four to six weeks apart
  • Itch and pain relief often precedes visible change
  • The foundation nearly every keloid protocol is built on

Redness & texture

Laser therapy

Laser treatment targets the redness and surface texture that injections alone do not address — layered into the protocol where the scar's appearance calls for it.

  • Commonly combined with injection therapy
  • Helps redness and surface irregularity settle
  • Session count depends on the scar's response
  • Added by clinical indication, not by default

Recurrence control

Combination protocols

Injection, laser, and adjunct options sequenced together — because keloids treated with a single method recur more often, and a managed course is what actually changes them.

  • Protocol mapped to the scar's age, size, and site
  • Progress reviewed against photographs each visit
  • Maintenance phase guards against regrowth
  • The honest answer to “why did my last treatment fail?”

Selected cases

Excision + adjuvant pathway

Surgical removal is considered for selected keloids — classically pedunculated earlobe keloids — and always paired with adjuvant injection therapy, because excision alone commonly triggers a larger regrowth.

  • Assessed case by case, never offered as a standalone fix
  • Injection therapy planned around the procedure
  • Suits narrow-based earlobe keloids in particular
  • Your doctor advises honestly if your scar is not a candidate

Not every raised scar is a keloid — hypertrophic scars stay within the original wound and often settle differently, and some raised bumps are growths with their own removal pathway. The assessment confirms which you have before any protocol is recommended.

— Request a Consultation

Start flattening that scar

WhatsApp us a photo of your keloid for a doctor's preliminary view, or book a scar assessment — you get a realistic protocol and a written quote, with no obligation to proceed.

  • Doctor-led assessment and recommendations
  • Singapore clinics at Tanjong Pagar, East Coast and Novena
  • Reviewed personally — not auto-routed
  • Reply via WhatsApp, typically within one business day
Doctor-Led
Personalised Plans
Reply within 24 hrs

Medical disclaimer

Information on this page is for general education only and does not replace a consultation with a qualified medical practitioner. Suitability, downtime, risks, and results vary by individual. Please consult your doctor before deciding on any treatment. Read the full medical disclosure.