The Cosmetic Surgery Blog

The thick, irregular, disfiguring scars known as a keloids have been a hopeless case for the nearly 6 million US citizens that suffer from them. Treating the large growth with surgery may seem typical, but will most likely result in even larger keloids. Nitrogen freezing has also been performed for keloids, but can result in nasty skin discolorations. Hardly hopeful propositions for those with lemon-sized mounds growing near their ears, middle chest, or lower belly.

However, hope lies on the horizon as studies are being conducted on the condition with noticeable success. A topical cream is being developed for what has been called a fairly mysterious affliction, and has found success in Shannon Brown of Chicago. After developing a small keloid behind her ear, she turned to surgery. A few operations later and the scar had taken her whole ear. After trying the cream, the keloid on her upper ear was removed and has not grown back; the keloid on her lower ear has shrunk to the point where it no longer rises. Needless to say, she is no longer embarrassed of her scar.

Marianne Guarena is an avid cosmetic surgery supporter with as editor-in-chief of a site devoted to the topic, "Yes They're Fake!" She has undergone more than 20 major and minor cosmetic procedures in the last eight years. She is considered now to be one of the great examples of the acceptance of cosmetic surgery in a rapidly modernizing society. There is little rebuke of plastic surgery as there was only a few years ago. Thanks to those of us like Marianne, more and more people want the procedures themselves. "The more people speak about it, the more they want it," says Marianne. She is proud to say that at 33, she still gets carded every time she walks into a bar.