Question:
I have a friend who is curious about the surgery, but is afraid of keloid problems.

Her whole family it seems has a problem with keloids. Would this be an issue as far as surgery goes? She would have to have open RNY because of her BMI and because there are not many surgeons in our area that do LAP. Waiting lists are incredible. Could someone please help me with this? I would love to see her be able to have this done if she so chooses. She has battled this obesity since her childhood. Thank you to all of you and your support. You are all so wonderful. You've helped me with my decision to have surgery. (5/23/02-open rny)yippee!! Can't wait.    — lerli1 (posted on April 15, 2002)

April 15, 2002
Well if she is prone to keloiding then she probably will. But technology today is such that she can get injections to reduce the keloiding if that is such a concern. Tell her to check with a plastic surgeon or dermatologist to find out what the latest keloid treatments are. I keloided when I got my 2nd ear piercing and keloided on one part of one of my lap scars but that wouldn'tve kept me from having the surgery. Good luck and God Bless!
   — Kimberly L.

April 15, 2002
Forgive me for asking, but what is Keloids?
   — Danmark

April 15, 2002
I am a keloid former. They're thick, red, ropey uncomfy worm like scars (for this procedure). Bad keloid formers can have golf balls form on a pierced ear. It's sort of an overhealing of the scar tissue ON THE INSIDE, so nothing we do or the surgeon does. Some races are more prone to them. But I am one, and any vertical will heal keloid, horizontals vanish. When I had my revision, the pattern was established so my dermatologist started the injections ar 5 weeks post-op. It still did keloid a bit and we continued to shoot it, but it is mostly flat, has faded in color and is not painful. It's not perfect, but it'll do to lose 150#.
   — vitalady