What is a keloid, and how is it different from other scars?
A keloid is a scar that grows beyond the edges of the original wound and does not tend to improve on its own. It can be painful or itchy, feel firm and raised, and affect both appearance and confidence. It differs from a hypertrophic scar, which is also thick and raised but stays within the wound's borders and usually flattens over time. Telling one from the other matters, because management can differ — that evaluation is part of your initial assessment with Dr. Baquero.
Why do keloids come back after surgery alone?
Removing a keloid surgically takes care of the bulk, but it leaves a fresh wound in skin that has already shown it heals excessively. That is why keloids have a strong tendency to return when treated with surgery alone — and the new keloid can even be larger than the original. In many cases, the best result comes from combining surgical removal with a treatment that moderates that excessive scarring, such as post-surgical radiotherapy.
How does radiotherapy help after surgery?
Radiotherapy acts on the cells that drive the scar's overgrowth. Delivered shortly after surgery, it reduces the risk of the keloid returning compared with surgery alone. Timing matters: it is generally given within the first days after excision, with the exact window defined case by case. Treatment uses superficial or electron radiotherapy techniques, which deposit the dose in the superficial layers of the skin, aimed only at the scar and planned to protect the surrounding tissue.
What treatment is like
Treatment is outpatient, quick and painless: each session lasts a few minutes and you can go back to your day right away. The number of sessions depends on the keloid's characteristics and the schedule chosen for your case — it is defined during planning, after your assessment. With external radiotherapy you are not radioactive and can be around family normally. Dr. Baquero also explains how to care for the wound and the treated skin during and after treatment.
Who is a candidate? Most common sites
Keloids can appear after surgery, injuries, burns, acne or piercings. The areas patients consult about most often are:
- Earlobes and ears, frequently after piercings.
- Chest and breastbone, even after small wounds or acne.
- Shoulders and upper back.
- Jawline and neck.
Every case is evaluated first: how old the keloid is, where it sits, whether it was operated on before, and your scarring history. To get started, you can share photos of the keloid by WhatsApp along with a short description of its history.
Traveling to Barranquilla for keloid treatment
Many international patients travel to Barranquilla for combined keloid surgery and radiotherapy, often because this coordinated approach is hard to arrange or costly where they live. Dr. Baquero can review your case remotely by WhatsApp before you travel — photos, prior reports and your questions — so that the surgery and radiotherapy timeline is mapped out in advance and your stay is planned around it. Consultations are available in Spanish and English.
Coordination with your surgeon, and follow-up
Results depend heavily on coordination between the surgeon and the radiation oncologist, because radiotherapy must be delivered within a short window after excision. Dr. Baquero can work directly with your own surgeon, agreeing on dates and timing, or help you coordinate the full circuit — surgery plus radiotherapy — if you do not have a surgeon yet. He sees private-pay patients and works with most health insurance plans; coverage is confirmed when scheduling. After treatment, follow-up of the scar is arranged, in person or remotely, to monitor how it evolves.
A real case: Juan David's story
Because of the sport he played for many years and the constant tension on the skin of his chest, Juan David developed two keloid scars on the upper front of the chest, causing intense itching, pain and a great deal of discomfort.
After assessment by plastic surgery the upper scar, the larger of the two, was resected. Following surgery he received electron beam radiotherapy over three consecutive sessions, started within the first 24 hours after the operation.
Four months after the resection the scar is flat, with no signs of hypertrophy and an excellent recovery. The itching and the pain are gone.
Every patient is different and requires an individual assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Does keloid radiotherapy hurt?
No. Each session is painless and lasts a few minutes, similar to having an X-ray. Mild, temporary redness of the treated skin can occur, and the doctor explains how to care for it.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on the keloid's size, location and characteristics. Usually only a few brief sessions are needed, but the exact number is defined at your assessment and during treatment planning.
When is radiotherapy done — before or after surgery?
Generally after the keloid is removed, within the first days. The exact window is defined case by case, which is why coordinating with the surgeon before the operation is key.
Does radiotherapy guarantee the keloid won't return?
No treatment can guarantee 100%. Radiotherapy after surgery reduces the risk of the keloid coming back compared with surgery alone, and the doctor explains what to expect in your specific case.
My keloid is old — can it still be treated?
Yes. Many patients consult about keloids that are years old, or that came back after previous surgery. Age does not rule out treatment; the plan is defined at your assessment.
Can keloid radiotherapy cause cancer?
This is a common and fair question. It is a superficial, localized treatment with doses aimed only at the scar; the risk is considered very low, and the doctor discusses it with you in consultation before any decision.
Can I plan everything before traveling to Colombia?
Yes. You can share photos and reports by WhatsApp, have your case reviewed remotely, and have the surgery-plus-radiotherapy timeline coordinated before you book your trip.
Do you take insurance, or private-pay only?
Dr. Baquero sees private-pay patients and works with most health insurance plans. Coverage under your specific plan is confirmed when you schedule.
Ready for an assessment?
Dr. Baquero will personally review your case. Care in Barranquilla · Santa Marta.
The information on this page is educational and does not replace an individual medical assessment.