Covering C-section Cut

Updated on December 27, 2008
K.J. asks from Stockton, CA
36 answers

hey! i had to have a ceserian because of complications during my pregnancy..and now im trying to find a way to cover the cut...is there any creams out there to help it go away...i was told the best thing to do is to cover it with a tatoo,because there it will never go awayy...but i just want to know if there is anything out there that can help.. thanks

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K.G.

answers from San Francisco on

You could just wait it out. I had a c section 2 1/2 years ago and I can't see my scar at all anymore. I have even tried to stretch the skin to look for it and still can't find it.

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E.M.

answers from San Francisco on

You might want to give it some time before getting a tatoo. The scar might fade significantly. Mine is almost invisible, 7 years later.

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T.W.

answers from San Francisco on

My youngest is now almost 5 and the scar from him is just a line now, I embrace it and don't hide it though the only people to see it would be those I choose to show it to, Yes a tattoo could help to camouflage it, I have one about an inch above it that I got before getting pregnant with my oldest and it does draw you attention away from the scar however it you want to tattoo over the scar you have to wait a year I believe before any artist would do it and then I would not do it if you plan to have any more kids because you would not want to ruin it by having it cut apart. Good Luck!

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M.S.

answers from San Francisco on

K.,

Congratulations on your baby! I wouldn't get a tattoo there-- the scar will fade over time and mine is hardly noticeable after 2 years. Just moisturize like you would any other part of the body and you will be fine.

Take care,

Molly

1 mom found this helpful
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R.V.

answers from San Francisco on

After 3 c-sections my scar was hard to see. Now I had another c-section. It takes a year or 2 but it dose fade. I feel mine is a bage of honor. It's how the most precious things in my life came through me. Congratulations on your baby.

1 mom found this helpful
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W.H.

answers from Phoenix on

Agree with all the other moms. Wanted to add one more tidbit that you may or may not be aware of, and may or may not apply to you. Did you know that if you smoke, it really reduces your body's ability to heal and repair itself? So if you dont smoke, plus with your young age, plus taking care of your scar (keeping lotion or cream on it so the skin's comfortable, pliable & not dried out), you will be fine.
It's a badge of honor, wear it with pride (but please dont flaunt it in public either! keep your belly skin covered - modesty is beautiful!)

Love your name K.!

1 mom found this helpful
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S.L.

answers from San Francisco on

hi there
first of all, congrats on your new baby. secondly DON'T get that tattoo just yet.. the scar will fade to almost nothing, oh sure the first year you can see it but once one or two past, it really does fade enough that it may not bother you. secondly.. you are very young (scars heal even better when so young and with such pliable skin) also, down the road you may want more children, well if you get that tattoo now...... what if you have to have another c section.they will have to cut into you again , so worse than a scar, that tattoo could become some really ugly mess.. (know what I mean)

wait UNTIL you are absolutely done having kids.... no rush in covering it up, first let nature do it's job and heal it completely.. 4 mos isn't anything, believe me, it WILL fade a great deal.. give it time :)
I had a c section 7 years ago, after about 1 1/2 years, I barely noticed the scar.. you 'll see...

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S.T.

answers from San Francisco on

Try Mederma. You can buy it at the pharmacy and it helps scars disappear. It works if you are consistant. I wouldn't advise a tatoo as what happens if you want another baby and they have to do another c-section?
S., mom of many

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J.K.

answers from Fresno on

Sorry to say that you have the birth war wound forever. It is there to stay and you earned it but the gift far outweighs the scar. Its low enough that you shouldn't be to bothered by it and since they cut those muscles you probably wont be wearing a tiny bikini anymore. A tatoo will just make it more obvious. Just enjoy your wonderful baby boy.

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C.C.

answers from Sacramento on

I was told by my late husband who was into aromatherapy that 100% lavender essential oil that you get from a natural store, that as long as the 'meat' is not showing, it will take away the scar over time. My late husband was pretty knowledgeable in this area.

Are you in Sacramento? There is a natural store on Fair Oaks and Madison called Sunshine... the people there are quite knowledgeable. You might want to talk to them to be sure.

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T.M.

answers from San Francisco on

K.,

I had two C-sections. I have a 2 1/2 year old and a 6 month old, both girls. For the first C-section, the scare was so low that eventual the hair in that region grew back and covered it up mostly. It was so low beneath the bikini line that it was not noticable. I used cocoa butter then and am using it again with the second delivery. The scar appears to be getting lighter. For me, following the birth of my first daughter, after about 9 months, the incision itself got smaller and friends of mine who have had c-sections say that as the years go by, the incision scar fades away completly. If you do not want to wait that long, use the cocoa butter. You may want to wait for tattoos' because you may need to deliver by c-section again and that may adveresly affect the appearance of a tattoo.
- T.

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W.M.

answers from Sacramento on

K.,
Try using maderma. It is made especially for scars, and
works great. I could not use it on mine because they did not have it back then. Also, it did work great on my daughters surgical incision.
W.

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K.N.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi K..

Be patient. Within about a year, it should look like a pencil thin white line. I had 3 C-sections and after a year or so each time it cleared up really well.

Best wishes,
K.

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P.L.

answers from San Francisco on

Mederma lotion will help and thenm retina after it heals. Tatto will make it look way worse, it will actaully bring attention to it. Good luck it fades!

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D.H.

answers from San Francisco on

It will fade tremendously over the next year, so don't do anything but use vitamin E oil on it and keep it out of the sun to protect the scar. You will be amazed at how it will fade, just give it some time.

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D.B.

answers from Redding on

Hi, K.. two-to-three times daily applications of Vitamin E oil or ointment enriched with zinc should help the scar fade. Just remember, this may take several months, even a year, but it took at least that long to build a lovely baby. D. B.

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E.L.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi K.,

Silicone creams and sheets are helpful. I recommend the cream over the sheet, b/c it is easier to apply and wear. I've had an appendix surgery scar from when I was 10 years old, and it diminished about 30% after I religiously wore the silicon sheet over it. However, it is important that you'd be very consistent with applying the cream or wearing the sheet. The scar has to be covered for at least 3 months, preferable all the time. I used to wear a silicone sheet, and it was not pleasant, it felt like wearing a plastic bag on my skin, but ... it worked! It took almost 6 months to see some result. Creams are preferable, easier to use, but you have to wait until they dry out, otherwise they may stain the clothing. Here is the company i like:
http://www.biodermis.com/scar_products/xeragel
Best of luck,
E.

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C.B.

answers from San Francisco on

I'm not exactly sure. But I know my doctor told me to break a scar down you need to pinch it, work it. Also, vitamin E oil got rid of scars on the face of a four year old who was bitten by a dog. Be regular.

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L.D.

answers from Modesto on

Congrats on the baby. If you plan on having more children please don't do anything yet. The chances of your having another c-section are very high since you already had one. The scars will fade but they take a year or two. A tattoo is not a great idea because if you do it before having more children it will stretch out and look worse than a scar ever would. Secondly, tattooing over a scar will not give as good a quality tattoo as regular skin. Thirdly, even if you do it when you are finished with kids, tattoos fade, stretch, wrinkle and generally look worse and worse as you age - again worse than any scar ever would. Scars fade in time and the aging process doesn't affect them so much(they blend in), because they are not as noticable as a tattoo. Lastly, any mark from having a child (whether a c-section scar or a stretch mark) is actually something to be proud of, wear it with pride. Be thankful you are able to have children, care for them and have a good life - there is nothing better.

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C.F.

answers from San Francisco on

I would use cocoa butter and see if it fades, definitely give it a lot more time than 4 months. Eventually, when it's faded as much as you think it will (and you think you're done having kids), a tattoo is a great idea for covering it. If you do it before you're finished, though, it will be damaged by the next pregnancy and that would not be pretty. Take care & congratulations! C.

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M.M.

answers from San Francisco on

I had a C section 9 years ago with my daughter... The cut does go away.. At first its redish then its pinkish, and then finally it fades to a very pale white and then finally it becomes thin enough that you really have to look hard to find it.. I'd wait for the tatoo... It won't be needed.. It does eventually go away. I'd say for me it was maybe a year and a half that its fading process was complete and then its cut became a thinner line and now, no longer visable.
Congrats on the baby!

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C.T.

answers from San Francisco on

Mix 2-3 drops of Helichrysum essential oil in castor oil. Apply and rub in 3-4 times a day. Scar will be gone in a few weeks.

Helichrysum is a bit expensive (like $20 for a tiny bottle, available at big health food stores), but trust me it works and works fast.

Best,
C.

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K.W.

answers from San Francisco on

I too went thru a C-Section last year and I've noticed it's JUST started fading a little in the middle. My girlfriend has a scar too and her's is barely noticable now, but it took 3 years to get there.

It takes time........nothing drastic will cover it because even a tattoo you will be able to see the bumb thru.

good luck fellow motherly scar wearer.
K.

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L.B.

answers from San Francisco on

try the CURAD scar strips. it works! i also had a c-section and need to start using again. i got it from my dermatologist.

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L.H.

answers from Redding on

Mederma is supposed to help scars lighten, Vitamin E oil is helpful as well, it won't cover it, or make it "go away" but, it will make it lighter and less noticeable. If you are planning on having any more children, I would suggest that route. If you get a tatoo over it, and then have another bbby and cesarian, you'll have spent good money to have a beautiful piece of art cut open, and scar tissue is hard to tattoo, however, you could "use"it as piece of the art!! I got a tattoo over my stretch marks, then got pregnant again, and am planning on at least 1 more, so I won't pay to touch it up (it looks thin in spots from stretching, but contrary to popular belief, it does not destroy the tattoo, and it still looks fine) until I'm sure we're not having any more kids. So, I'd try lightening the scar, and if you REALLY want to cover it up, wait until you're sure!!

G.L.

answers from Fresno on

a c-sec scar should fade a lot! you may not even notice it. i wouldn't cover it with a tattoo b/c if your next birth will also be a c-sec it would have to be destroyed cutting into it. congrats on your new baby & life!

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L.F.

answers from San Francisco on

If you're going to get a tatoo, wait a while. It's only been four months since your c-section and the scar tissue needs time to heal properly. It will change over time. It's been four years since I had mine and because of where it is(the bikini line) I can barely see it. Vitamin E can be good for it. Also massaging the area can help with circulation. I hated my scare for a long time, but now I don't even know it's there. Good luck.

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J.M.

answers from Salinas on

Congratulations on your new little one! I had a c-section 15 months ago. You can't even see the scar now. I would wait it out before you do something drastic. Also, if you are planning to have more children, chances are you will have to have another c-section. I would wait until you think you are done having kids :o)

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M.C.

answers from San Francisco on

I also had a c-section 15 months ago and it is starting to fade. I have been using Vitamin E. I cut a hole in the capsules and put it on the scar. It is a little sticky so I do it before I go to bed everynight.

Do not get a tattoo. Who know if you want to have another child and you may have another c-section.

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J.M.

answers from Sacramento on

It hard to believe now, but your scar will move and fade. Most women's moves down to below or just at the hair line, especially if you skin is still pretty elastic, which I'm sure yours is since you are so young. I had a c-sect 11 mos ago and the edges are now fading and the scar has moved really farto be near the very edge of the pubic bone...probably won't even see it in another year...It really is hard to believe that could happen when you're only 4 mos postpart.

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P.W.

answers from San Francisco on

Hey, you want a scar, try a tummy tuck!! Makes a c-section scar look like nothing. Wear it as your badge of honor. In time it will fade, and you'll barely notice it.

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L.P.

answers from San Francisco on

Give it some time, I had a C-section 20 mos ago and it is definitely getting lighter and lighter as time goes by. I would not go out and tattoo just yet as it might get lighter on it's own.

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K.M.

answers from San Francisco on

I would just let it be, K.. It should heal and almost entirely disappear on its own. And if the surgeon did a bikini cut (just above the pubic bone) you'll be able to cover it with a bikini bottom or even low cut pants with no problem. (I've had two c-sections now and my scars are basically invivisible.) Give it time. Good luck to you and your family!

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M.S.

answers from Stockton on

K.,

I also had a c-section 10 months ago with my 2nd baby. I was a little worried about the appearance of the scar. However, mine has faded and shrunk already. I honestly barely notice it. Even my lowest cut underwear and my bikini cover it. I would just give it some time. You won't even notice it before too long.

Congratulations on your baby boy. They are wonderful...I have 2.

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S.L.

answers from San Francisco on

It will fade a lot over time. I was very concerned about mine as it was still tender and red even at 6 months post-partum. Now, my son is almost 2 1/2 and it is barely visible. I would caution you against tattoing over it - it is very hard to tattoo over scar tissue and the process would take 3-4 times as long as a regular tattoo (over undamaged skin), and even then - the quality would not be ideal. It will definately get better with time. :)

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G.B.

answers from San Francisco on

Sweetheart, you will endure many scars over your lifetime.
They come and they go. Scars are just part of being a human being.

I remember being youthful, and every tiny flaw was a big deal to me. I wore a TON on makeup. I look back now and wish I had just let my self be more natural. There is beauty... but it's not in perfection, it's in youth. You are young and you are beautiful. Don't sweat the small stuff.

We are our own worst critics. I bet your husband doesn't mind it at all. If you do eventually get your mind set on a tatoo, Check with him to see if he even likes tatoos. Some men dont like tatoos at all and it can actually be a turnoff for them.

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