Table of contents

• Keloid Injection at a Glance
• What Is a Keloid Injection?
• Who Is a Good Candidate for a Keloid Injection?
• How Is a Keloid Injection Performed?
• Why Visit Korea for a Keloid Injection?
• Key Information for International Patients
• Which Are the Best Clinics in Korea for Keloid Injection?
• Keloid Injection From Start to Finish
• Alternatives to a Keloid Injection
• How Can I Prepare for a Keloid Injection?
• Aftercare Advice

Considering treatment in Korea? Everything you need to know e.g. — how to avoid scams, visas, interpreters, recovery tips — in our Medical Tourism Master Guide. Plan with confidence in minutes, not weeks!

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Last updated: September 2026

Keloid Injection at a Glance

• What it treats — A keloid injection places medication, usually triamcinolone acetonide, directly into a raised scar that extends beyond the original wound to reduce height, firmness, itch, pain, redness, and tightness.
• Best candidates — It is suited to a confirmed, symptomatic or bothersome keloid, including scars after piercings, acne, surgery, burns, or trauma; an ulcerated, bleeding, rapidly changing, or infected lesion needs assessment before injection.
• Treatment schedule — Results develop over weeks rather than immediately, and reassessment or repeat injections are commonly planned about every 4 weeks; the total number of sessions varies by scar size, site, response, and side effects.
• Recovery — This is usually an outpatient procedure with no incision, anesthesia, admission, or meaningful downtime; temporary soreness, pinpoint bleeding, bruising, or tenderness can occur, and friction, swimming, saunas, and strenuous activity should be avoided for about 24 hours.
• Important limitation — Injections can soften and flatten a keloid but cannot guarantee that it disappears or eliminate the tendency to form new or recurrent keloids.
• Key risks — Potential local complications include pigment change, visible small vessels, ulceration, infection, and steroid-related skin or fat atrophy causing dimpling, particularly if steroid is placed too deeply beneath the scar.
• Korea travel planning — Plan 1–2 days in Korea for injection-only care, but arrange follow-up at home because treatment is usually serial; Korean published experience is strongest for combined surgery-and-injection protocols for ear keloids, not proof of superior injection-only results for all scar sites.

What Is a Keloid Injection?

A keloid injection places medication directly into an overgrown raised scar, most often a corticosteroid. It aims to soften and flatten the scar while easing itch, pain, tenderness, redness, and tightness over time. It is a non-surgical treatment performed in an outpatient setting.

Who Is a Good Candidate for a Keloid Injection?

• Confirmed, raised keloid — Suitable candidates have a scar that grows beyond the original wound edge, often after piercing, acne, surgery, trauma, burns, or vaccination. Common sites include the earlobe, chest, shoulders, and jawline.
• Troublesome symptoms — Intralesional treatment targets itch, pain, tenderness, redness, firmness, tightness, and excess scar height.
• Early or persistent scar management — A triamcinolone acetonide (TAC) injection is commonly used as an initial treatment or as part of a longer plan for a recurrent or bulky keloid.
• Realistic treatment goal — Good candidates understand that injections aim to soften and flatten a scar over weeks or months; they do not guarantee complete disappearance or remove the tendency to form keloids.

Do not treat every raised lesion as a keloid. A rapidly changing, ulcerated, bleeding, unusually pigmented, or uncertain lesion needs an in-person dermatology assessment and sometimes biopsy before scar treatment. Defer injection when there is cellulitis, drainage, ulceration, or another active local infection, and seek medical review first for uncontrolled diabetes, significant immunosuppression, or a poorly healing wound. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and attempts to conceive require medication-specific review, particularly when 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is being considered; 5-FU is an off-label option with embryo-fetal toxicity concerns. Children and adults can develop keloids, but the clinician must assess scar behavior, site, prior recurrence, skin condition, and the person’s capacity to complete serial follow-up.

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How Is a Keloid Injection Performed?

The injection medicine, depth, and use of adjunct treatment are chosen according to scar thickness, location, symptoms, previous treatment, and local side-effect risk. There is no single injection schedule or dose that suits every keloid.

• Intralesional TAC alone — Triamcinolone acetonide is injected into the scar itself, not beneath it, to reduce inflammation and scar activity. An expert consensus on intralesional keloid treatment favored intradermal placement, visible blanching as an endpoint, 40 mg/mL TAC, and roughly 4-week intervals; this is a consensus framework, not a universal prescription.
• Individualized TAC protocol — Korean review literature describes clinical TAC concentrations of 10–40 mg/mL, with frequency and duration adjusted for scar size, volume, site, and patient characteristics. Published regimens range from every 3 weeks to monthly, confirming that a fixed number of sessions is not evidence-based for all patients.
• TAC plus 5-FU — For selected resistant or bulky lesions, a specialist may use off-label 5-FU with TAC. In a randomized comparison, TAC, 5-FU, and combination treatment all improved keloids, but steroid treatment produced more atrophy and telangiectasia while 5-FU produced more ulceration.
• Injection with adjunct treatment — Cryotherapy, pressure therapy, vascular laser, fractional laser, or surgery can be added when scar thickness, redness, site, or recurrence risk warrants it. A Korean randomized trial found improvement with both fractional CO2 laser plus topical TAC and repeated intralesional TAC at 4-week intervals.

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Why Visit Korea for a Keloid Injection?

Korea has published academic experience in combined management of auricular and earlobe keloids. This is relevant when an ear scar needs more than a simple injection, but it does not prove that injection-only outcomes in Korea are superior to those elsewhere. Ask the treating institution which medicine, concentration, technique, and follow-up plan it uses for the specific scar site.

• Published ear-keloid protocols — A Seoul cohort of 20 auricular lesions treated with intralesional excision followed by postoperative TAC reported more than 50% height or volume reduction in 95% of lesions and one recurrence over 24 months. The same Korean report also describes a Yonsei earlobe series using perioperative and monthly TAC after excision.
• Combination-treatment experience — Korean academic literature includes protocols combining injections with surgery or fractional CO2 laser, reflecting access to multidisciplinary scar management when injection alone is insufficient.
• Important evidence limit — The published Korean cohorts are small, focused on ear lesions, and largely involve combination treatment. They cannot predict results for injection-only care of chest, shoulder, jawline, or acne-related keloids, and no direct comparative evidence establishes Korea as superior to other medical destinations.

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Key Information for International Patients

• Minimum stay — Plan 1–2 days for injection-only care. The first day generally includes consultation, examination, consent, photographs or measurements, and treatment; an optional next-day review is useful for a painful, large, facial, ear, recently treated, or diagnostically uncertain lesion.
• Repeat visits — Keloid improvement develops over weeks, and review is commonly scheduled at approximately 4-week intervals. A single medical trip rarely completes a full treatment course, so arrange a dermatologist or plastic surgeon at home before travel.
• Flying — Same-day or next-day flying is generally practical after an uncomplicated injection if discomfort is controlled and the site can be protected from rubbing. This guidance does not apply when treatment includes excision, radiation, sedation, or a complication.
• Itinerary impact — There is usually no admission, IV sedation, fasting, driver, or travel companion required for injection alone. Keep the first 24 hours low-friction: avoid swimming, saunas, strenuous activity, vigorous massage, and clothing or equipment that repeatedly presses on the treated scar.
• Records for home follow-up — Request a written record listing the medication, concentration, volume, total dose, treated sites or injection map, photographs, complications to watch for, and next review date.
• Remote follow-up — Send standardized photographs and symptom updates to the Korean clinic if requested, but seek in-person local care for infection, ulceration, worsening pain, or a significant skin reaction.

Travel note: Extend the stay when a plan includes excision, pressure-device fitting, cryotherapy, laser treatment, postoperative radiation, sedation, or management of a complication; these are separate treatment pathways with different recovery needs.

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Which Are the Best Clinics in Korea for Keloid Injection?

Listed below are some of the best clinics in Korea for keloid injection.

1. Three Wishes Clinic - Myeongdong

If you are considering a keloid injection, the available clinic information does not confirm that this treatment is offered at Three Wishes Clinic - Myeongdong. The clinic’s documented services focus on aesthetic injectables, laser-based skin care, and regenerative skin treatments, so you should verify keloid-specific assessment and injection options before arranging care.

• URL: Three Wishes Clinic - Myeongdong Website
• Location: Jung-gu, Seoul
• Documented injectable and skin care services:
  • Botox, dermal fillers, fat-dissolving injections, thread lifting, and Rejuran Healer are listed among the clinic’s aesthetic treatments.
  • Skin-focused options include CO2 laser resurfacing, chemical peels, PDT acne treatment, Shurink ultrasound lifting, laser hair removal, and customized skin care.
• Relevant considerations:
  • CO2 laser and chemical peels are described for concerns including mild scars and skin texture, but the provided information does not state that they are used for keloids.
  • No keloid injection protocol, medication, clinician, or scar-specific follow-up process is identified in the available information.

2. DATENA CLINIC

For a keloid injection, the available information does not confirm that DATENA CLINIC provides keloid-specific injections or scar management. Its documented care is centered on personalized dermatology and aesthetic planning for skin quality, pigmentation, pores, acne scars, facial contouring, and anti-aging concerns; confirm whether your scar can be evaluated and treated before booking.

• URL: DATENA CLINIC Website
• Location: Songpa-gu, Seoul
• Skin and scar-related care:
  • Acne-scar, pore, and skin-texture concerns are included in the clinic’s personalized evaluation and treatment planning.
  • Pigmentation lasers, laser toning, Genesis laser treatment, skin boosters, and medical skincare are listed within skin-rejuvenation programs.
• Personalized treatment planning:
  • The clinic describes professional skin assessment and treatment selection based on your current skin condition.
  • No keloid injection medication, injection technique, lead clinician, or scar-specific aftercare details are provided.

3. Diore Clinic

If you are seeking a keloid injection, the available information does not establish that Diore Clinic offers keloid treatment. The clinic documents aesthetic injectable, lifting, contouring, and skin-rejuvenation services, so you should confirm whether it evaluates raised scars and provides an appropriate injection plan for your needs.

• URL: Diore Clinic Website
• Location: 9th, Gangnam-daero 428, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
• Documented treatments:
  • Injectable offerings include dermal fillers and Radiesse for selected facial or body contouring goals.
  • Skin-rejuvenation programs include skin-brightening care and a collagen-booster program intended to support hydration and the appearance of elasticity.
  • Ultherapy, Thermage, and ONDA are listed for non-surgical lifting, skin-firmness support, and contouring.
• Keloid-specific information:
  • The provided information does not name a keloid injection treatment, medication, clinician, or follow-up protocol.
  • The listed treatments are aesthetic services and should not be assumed to be keloid care without direct confirmation.

Keloid Injection From Start to Finish

1. Send records before travel — Provide clear photographs, the original cause and date of the scar, growth pattern, symptoms, prior procedures or injections, recurrence history, medication and supplement list, allergies, pregnancy possibility, diabetes, immune conditions, and use of anticoagulants or antiplatelet medicines. Confirm whether an English-language or virtual consultation is available.
2. Complete the in-person assessment — The clinician examines the scar, confirms that it behaves like a keloid rather than another lesion, documents dimensions and symptoms, and takes clinical photographs. An atypical, bleeding, ulcerated, rapidly changing, or uncertain lesion requires diagnostic assessment before injection.
3. Agree on a treatment plan — Discuss TAC alone versus a combination approach, expected number of reviews, local risks, and whether pressure therapy, laser, cryotherapy, surgery, or another treatment is appropriate. Injection-only care does not usually require routine blood tests, but testing can be appropriate for complex medical conditions, 5-FU use, anticoagulant management, or combined surgery.
4. Prepare the skin and control discomfort — The treatment area is cleansed. Topical anesthetic can be used when appropriate; general anesthesia and IV sedation are not routine for a standard keloid injection.
5. Receive intralesional injections — The clinician makes several small injections throughout the raised scar to distribute medicine within the keloid. Proper intradermal rather than subcutaneous placement is important because deeper steroid placement raises the risk of fat or skin atrophy.
6. Leave after a brief check — The outpatient appointment ends without stitches or admission. Expect short-lived soreness, tenderness, pinpoint bleeding, or bruising; use the clinic’s instructions for discomfort control.
7. Protect the area during early recovery — Resume ordinary activities the same day when comfortable, while avoiding rubbing, pressure, strenuous activity, swimming, and sauna exposure that irritates the area for about 24 hours.
8. Review results and continue care — Assess changes in itch, pain, redness, firmness, and height over weeks rather than immediately. Attend or arrange reassessment at about 4 weeks, and share treatment documentation with the clinician managing follow-up at home.

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Alternatives to a Keloid Injection

Non-surgical options avoid an incision but usually require repeated use or appointments and can produce gradual, incomplete flattening. Surgical removal can reduce a large or function-limiting scar immediately, but excision alone has a substantial recurrence concern and should be paired with a specialist-directed adjuvant plan when appropriate.

Silicone Gel or Sheets

• Best role — A non-invasive option for stable scars, early management, or use alongside injections.
• Tradeoff — Requires consistent use and does not remove a bulky keloid quickly.

Pressure Therapy

• Best role — Particularly relevant for ear scars, where pressure earrings can provide sustained compression after clinician fitting.
• Tradeoff — Benefit depends on consistent wear and proper fit; pressure can cause irritation if poorly fitted.

Cryotherapy or Laser

• Best role — Cryotherapy can be selected for scar bulk, while vascular or fractional laser can target redness, texture, or be used in a combination protocol. See scar removal laser, V-Beam laser, or CO2 laser.
• Tradeoff — These treatments use different mechanisms and recovery profiles and are not interchangeable with intralesional medicine.

Intralesional 5-FU or Bleomycin

• Best role — Specialist-managed options for selected resistant keloids when TAC alone has not controlled the scar.
• Tradeoff — Both require separate risk assessment; 5-FU has reproductive safety concerns and can cause ulceration.

Excision With Adjuvant Treatment

• Best role — Consider for large, recurrent, or function-limiting scars, especially certain auricular lesions. Related procedures include keloid removal and keloid ear surgery.
• Tradeoff — Surgery creates a new wound and needs a prevention plan such as injections, pressure, or other clinician-selected adjuvant treatment; it is not a stand-alone cure.

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How Can I Prepare for a Keloid Injection?

• Send accurate photos and history — Before booking, provide well-lit photographs with a size reference and explain the trigger, date of onset, growth beyond the wound edge, symptoms, prior treatments, recurrence, and any previous poor healing.
• Disclose medicines early — Report warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban, clopidogrel, aspirin, NSAIDs, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, diabetes medicines, and all supplements. Do not independently stop a prescribed blood thinner; the prescriber and treating clinician must decide whether any change is appropriate.
• Discuss pregnancy and allergies — Tell the clinic about pregnancy, breastfeeding, attempts to conceive, drug allergies, and previous reactions to injected medicines. This is essential when 5-FU or any non-standard medication combination is proposed.
• Treat infection first — Report drainage, spreading redness, warmth, ulceration, fever, or a poorly healing wound before travel. Do not inject through an actively infected lesion.
• Arrive with clean, uninjured skin — Do not pick, shave over, wax, or apply irritating products to the treatment area immediately before the appointment. Avoid fresh sunburn.
• Plan travel conservatively — No fasting, driver, or companion is normally needed for injection alone, but schedule a 1–2-day Korean stay and choose flexible travel when the scar is large, painful, facial, on the ear, or diagnostically uncertain.

Travel note: Bring an up-to-date medication list and request a written post-treatment record for the clinician who will continue care at home.

Confirm the clinic’s medication, food, skincare, and scheduling requirements in advance; the treating doctor’s individualized instructions take precedence over general guidance.

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Aftercare Advice

Protect the injected scar from friction and monitor it closely during the first days; meaningful flattening and symptom relief are assessed over weeks, not immediately.

• First 24 hours — Keep the area clean, do not pick or vigorously massage it, and avoid pressure, rubbing, swimming, saunas, and strenuous exercise that irritates the treated site.
• Discomfort and bruising — Short-lived soreness, tenderness, pinpoint bleeding, or bruising can occur. Use a cool compress over a clean barrier if the clinic agrees; do not apply ice directly to the skin.
• Sun protection — Once the skin is intact, protect exposed scars with broad-spectrum SPF 50 to reduce post-inflammatory pigment change.
• Prescribed adjuncts — Use silicone gel, silicone sheets, pressure earrings, or other prescribed scar therapy consistently. These support the treatment plan but do not replace scheduled review.
• Urgent warning signs — Seek prompt medical advice for worsening pain, spreading redness or warmth, pus or drainage, fever, blistering, skin breakdown, a rapidly enlarging reaction, generalized hives, facial swelling, wheeze, or breathing difficulty. Report dimpling, marked pigment change, visible small vessels, ulceration, or persistent wound breakdown without delay.
• Follow-up timing — Reassess at the planned interval, often around 4 weeks. Further injections depend on changes in scar height, firmness, itch, pain, adverse effects, and the wider treatment plan.

Follow the treating doctor’s instructions over general advice and contact the clinic promptly when the area appears wrong or symptoms worsen.