Keloid Prevention Technology
A Keloid Risk examination developed by Dr. Keyes is performed on all new patients. The exam looks for and documents multiple historical and physical exam data generally suspected to be factors in potential keloid formation. The exam outputs a keloid risk score that is used in part in procedure selection. This standardized exam has been performed many thousands of times by Dr. Keyes over the last 22 years.
Our skin incisions are designed to be anti-keloid as they generally follow the resting skin tension lines and are sutured with 6-0 size suture (ie --very thin thread and very small needle) that allows more numerous suture points with less damage but much more perfect skin edge alignment encouraging less healing tissue needed. “
Did You Know?
1. No other standard exam of keloids has been developed to my knowledge. Typically most professional effort is not in the prevention of keloids but treatment of them once the patient develops one.
2. Many commonly performed toe surgical incisions are perpendicular to the resting skin tension lines and sutured with a much larger thread gauge and needle size which, in my opinion, would consistently yield inferior cosmetic acceptability and become more keloid prone. Again, there is not much medical attention given to the PREVENTION of keloids.
3. To the extent of Keyes for Toes knowledge, no doctor routinely has this step in the post-op process. Silicone has been commonly used for scars but is usually performed in DIY unsupervised, non-standardized manner using a variety of different forms of silicone products many of which do not work at all.
Keyes for Toes Innovation
1. You will know your risk of forming keloids before the procedure-- A Keloid Risk examination developed by Dr. Keyes is performed on all new patients.
2. Our skin incisions are designed to be anti-keloid
3. Keloid protection throughout your post-op care. At about 3 weeks post-op the toe incisions are meticulously cleaned of dead skin debris and then treated with a custom-fitted silicone gel sheet under pressure to adjust the healing scar to the proper thickness and density. Then photo monitoring of the scar progress is performed at standardized times.