If you’re planning to have a C-section or have recently had a C-section, you’re probably wondering what the scar will look like and what you can do to minimize the appearance of it.
A scar can be the telltale sign of a C-section delivery. It often is raised and discolored. Sometimes it’s painful. No treatment can restore your skin to the way it looked before surgery. But you can treat a scar at home to improve how it looks. However, it’s difficult to determine which treatment will work best. In order to solve this problem, below we introduce the clinically-proven scar treatment option for C-section scars.
What is C-section delivery?
According to Healthline, a cesarean delivery — also known as a C-section or cesarean section — is the surgical delivery of a baby. It involves one incision in the mother’s abdomen and another in the uterus.
Cesarean deliveries are generally avoided before 39 weeks of pregnancy so the child has proper time to develop in the womb. Sometimes, however, complications arise and a cesarean delivery must be performed prior to 39 weeks.
C-section incisions and scars
WebMD indicates that there are two types of incisions a surgeon may use during a C-section: vertical and horizontal. Both incisions are equally likely to scar, but the scar will look different depending on its direction.
Vertical cuts are more common in emergency C-sections because they are faster. If your baby is having a health emergency, it lets your surgeon get to them quicker and begin treating them. However, a vertical incision is considered more painful and takes longer to heal.
On the other hand, horizontal incisions are more common in planned C-sections. These incisions are low on your torso, just above your pubic area. Many mothers prefer horizontal incisions because they are easier to hide. They also heal more quickly and cause less pain than vertical incisions. The incision is usually around 4 to 6 inches.
C-sections can cause scarring. In some women, these scars become thick, raised, and red. That may mean that your scar is hypertrophic, where your body created more scar tissue than necessary. A hypertrophic scar is harmless, but it may get irritated when you wear clothes or you may not like how it looks.
Keloid scars are also formed due to an uninhibited production of collagen. Keloids are the result of an overgrowth of dense fibrous tissue that usually develops after healing of a skin injury. The tissue extends beyond the borders of the original wound, does not usually regress spontaneously, and tends to recur after excision.
The best treatment for C-section scars
Along with proper wound care, the first step you can take to prevent unwanted scar formation is to start treatment early, as soon as 10 to 14 days after surgery.
If you already have a C-section scar, then you may consider several options to make it less obvious.
Steroid injections
If you have a larger scar, steroid injections can help flatten it and make it less obvious. Your doctor may recommend monthly steroid injections so you can get the look you want.
Laser therapy
Medical lasers can help soften old scars and get rid of raised scars. Several monthly laser treatments can help many people minimize the appearance of old C-section scars.
Scar revision
If you have a C-section scar that other treatments have not helped, your doctor may recommend scar revision surgery. This treatment reopens the skin of your scar and removes the scar tissue. The goal is to allow the area to heal again with a less noticeable scar.
Silicone-based products
As you can see, most of the treatment options for C-section scars mentioned above are invasive. The key is to use a non-invasive treatment that has been proven to be safe and effective in managing scars. Topical silicone gel has been on the market for over 30 years, and numerous clinical studies support its effectiveness in flattening and reducing the appearance of scars, including C-section scars. Also according to scar proffesionals, the silicone creates a protective barrier over the scar which allows it to mature while helping to prevent production of excess scar tissue, thus minimizing the scarring. The silicone layer also assists with hydration of the scar to restore healthy pigmentation to the skin.
We do recommend Nourisil™ MD scar cream for C-section scars treatment and prevention because of its unique benefits differentiating from other silicone gel products on the market. Nourisil™ MD contains a unique blend of 5 silicones and Vitamin E to help heal scars. Additionally, Nourisil™ MD is an ultra-light, transparent, non-sticky, and self-drying silicone gel (only within 60 seconds), all of which make it to be suitable for managing C-section scars.