Skin treatments
Keloid Injection Treatment in Knightsbridge: A Doctor-Led Guide
How intralesional steroid injections flatten and calm keloid scars, what to expect from a course, how injections compare with other keloid treatments, side effects, results timeline, cost in London, and how to reduce the chance of recurrence.
By Fatemeh, Founder & Lead Practitioner, Levirgo Aesthetics Clinic 15 min read
Reviewed December 2025 
What a keloid is (and how it differs from a normal scar)
When skin is injured, fibroblasts lay down collagen to repair it. In a keloid, that process doesn’t switch off — collagen keeps being produced and the scar expands beyond the boundary of the original wound, often becoming raised, firm, shiny and darker or redder than surrounding skin. This is different from a hypertrophic scar, which stays within the wound margins and tends to improve over time.
| Keloid | Hypertrophic scar | |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | Extends beyond original wound | Stays within wound borders |
| Natural course | Persists or grows; rarely regresses | Often flattens over 1–2 years |
| Common sites | Earlobes, chest, shoulders, upper back, jawline | Anywhere, often over joints |
| Triggers | Piercings, acne, surgery, burns, minor cuts, sometimes spontaneous | Usually tension across a healing wound |
Who is more prone
Keloids are more common in people with richly pigmented skin, in those with a family history, and between the ages of about 10 and 30. Earlobe keloids after piercing are one of the most frequent presentations.
How steroid injections work
A corticosteroid (commonly triamcinolone acetonide) is injected directly into the body of the keloid. It reduces inflammation, suppresses the overactive fibroblasts, decreases collagen production and increases collagen breakdown. The scar becomes softer and flatter, and the itch and tenderness typically ease early. For firmer or more stubborn keloids, the steroid is often combined with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), which further inhibits fibroblast proliferation and lets a lower steroid dose be used.
What a course involves
- Assessment
The keloid is measured and photographed, its cause and activity assessed, and your treatment history reviewed. Suitability and expectations are discussed.
- Injection session
The scar may be numbed with cold spray or local anaesthetic. The medication is injected into several points within the scar until it blanches slightly. Takes a few minutes.
- Interval
Sessions are repeated every 4–6 weeks. Symptoms often improve after 1–2 sessions; visible flattening builds over 3–6.
- Review & maintenance
Once flat and settled, longer intervals or a watchful pause follow. Some keloids need occasional top-ups if they show signs of reactivating.
Results and timeline
Illustrative cumulative flattening and symptom relief after each injection session. Individual response varies with keloid size, age and site.
Colour change (redness or darkness) is usually the last thing to improve and may take many months, sometimes needing additional treatments such as vascular laser for redness or pigment-focused care. A fully flattened keloid can leave the skin slightly depressed or lighter than surrounding skin.
How injections compare with other keloid treatments
| Treatment | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Intralesional steroid (± 5-FU) | First-line for most keloids | Course of injections; good symptom relief; recurrence possible |
| Silicone sheets / gel + pressure | Adjunct and prevention | Best started early; needs months of daily use |
| Cryotherapy | Small keloids, often with injection | Can lighten skin, especially in darker tones |
| Surgical excision | Large or pedunculated keloids | Must be combined with injections/radiotherapy or recurrence is likely |
| Radiotherapy after excision | High-risk or recurrent keloids | Specialist referral; lowers recurrence significantly |
| Vascular / fractional laser | Redness and texture | Adjunct once the keloid is flatter |
Most real-world plans combine two or more of these. Your clinician tailors the mix to the keloid.
Get your keloid assessed properly
Book a consultation. We’ll confirm the diagnosis, explain the realistic result from injections, and set out a combined plan and price in writing.
Side effects and safety
- Skin thinning (atrophy) and small visible blood vessels at the site — reduced by careful dosing and by adding 5-FU.
- Lightening of the skin around the scar, which can be more noticeable on richly pigmented skin and is often temporary.
- Injection discomfort — keloids are dense, so injections can sting; numbing helps.
- Rarely, menstrual irregularity or a temporary rise in blood sugar with higher steroid doses.
- 5-FU is avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding and needs care in people with certain blood or liver conditions.
Tell your clinician if
You are pregnant or breastfeeding, have poorly controlled diabetes, are immunosuppressed, have an active infection over the scar, or have had a strong reaction to steroid injections before. These change the plan or dose.
What it costs in London
| Item | Typical London price |
|---|---|
| Consultation & assessment | £50–£150 (often redeemable) |
| Single injection session (small keloid) | £120–£250 |
| Single injection session (larger / multiple keloids) | £200–£350 |
| Typical course of 4–6 | £600–£1,600 |
The number of sessions depends on the keloid. Your plan and price are confirmed after assessment.
How Levirgo treats keloids
- Doctor-led assessment to confirm it’s a keloid (not hypertrophic or another lesion) and to grade its activity.
- Triamcinolone, with 5-FU combination where it will improve results and limit steroid side effects.
- Measured, photographed progress at each visit rather than a subjective “looks better”.
- Combination planning — silicone and pressure, cryotherapy, or referral for excision plus radiotherapy for high-risk cases.
- Lifelong prevention advice for keloid-prone skin.
- CQC-registered clinic in Knightsbridge with transparent pricing and a 24-hour aftercare contact.
Frequently asked questions
How much does keloid injection treatment cost in Knightsbridge?
A single injection session is roughly £120–£350 in London depending on the size and number of keloids, with a typical course of four to six costing £600–£1,600. The consultation is usually a separate, often redeemable, fee.
How many injections will I need?
Most keloids need three to six sessions spaced four to six weeks apart. Itch and tenderness often ease after one or two sessions; visible flattening builds over the full course. Some keloids need occasional maintenance injections afterwards.
Do the injections hurt?
Keloids are dense, so the injection can sting. We numb the area first with cold spray or local anaesthetic, which makes it very tolerable. Each session only takes a few minutes.
Will the keloid come back?
Keloids are prone to recurrence, which is why treatment focuses on long-term control and prevention. Response rates are good with a proper course, and combining steroid with 5-FU, silicone and pressure improves durability. After surgery, recurrence is high unless injections or radiotherapy are added.
What is 5-FU and why add it?
5-fluorouracil is a medication that suppresses the overactive scar-forming cells. Adding it to the steroid can improve flattening and allows a lower steroid dose, reducing side effects like skin thinning. It’s avoided in pregnancy and needs care with certain medical conditions.
Can injections completely remove a keloid?
They flatten and soften the scar and relieve symptoms — typically 50–80% improvement — but some scar tissue and colour change usually remain. Very large or long-standing keloids often need surgery plus injections or radiotherapy for a bigger reduction.
What are the risks of steroid injections?
The most common are thinning of the skin, small visible blood vessels, and lightening of the surrounding skin (more noticeable on darker skin and often temporary). Careful dosing and the 5-FU combination reduce these.
Should I have my keloid surgically removed instead?
Surgery alone has a high recurrence rate for keloids. It’s reserved for large or stalk-like keloids and is always combined with injections and/or radiotherapy or pressure therapy. For most keloids, injections are the sensible first step.
Can I get a new piercing once my earlobe keloid is treated?
It’s best avoided. If you’ve formed one keloid you’re likely to form another, and piercings are a common trigger. If a piercing is very important to you, discuss a prevention plan (pressure earrings, early silicone, prompt treatment) with your clinician first.
How soon will the itching stop?
Itch and tenderness are usually the first things to improve, often within one or two sessions, even before the scar visibly flattens.
Levirgo Aesthetics Clinic · Knightsbridge
Doctor-led keloid care in Knightsbridge
Accurate diagnosis, evidence-based injections, measured progress and a plan to reduce recurrence. No obligation to proceed.
Sources & further reading
This article is general information about keloid injection treatment and is not medical advice. Diagnosis, treatment choice, dosing and risks must be individualised by a clinician after assessment. Prices are indicative London ranges for 2026 and are confirmed in writing after consultation.