Annoying Flap from Pregnancy

If you find out how to get rid of it let me know, I have the same exact problem and feel the same way about it!!

J., it is possible to have that flap gone. I have some friends with 3 and 4 c sections and none of them have it. Healthy eating and excersize that targets that area, will do wonders. I had 2 sections and even though I still have 1 size to loose, I have no flap(but I also never got any stretch marks and on my due date my stomach looked like I still had 3 months to go(now my bum was a different story:))....so it might just depend on the stomoch mussles )

Another commiseration message here. I've had 1 C-section and it's a year and a half later and I still have it. My scar itched like crazy, too. Moisturize with something that has collagen or Vitamin E. It helps. I hadn't realized that my muffin top was the result of the c-section! No wonder my friends who gave birth vaginally seemed to have an easier time of it getting back into shape! I've been working like mad and that muffin top is still there!

I've had 2 c-sections anf know what you mean. I was finally losing that flap and getting a semi toned tummy when I got pregnant with #2. My oldest had just turned 3 and #2 was planned so I brought it on myself. The flap is from 2 things: 1- pregnancy and the body stretching and 2-having your abnominal muscles sliced in 2. The flap actually usually has very little fatty tissue in it so once you reach a healthy weight there's not much you can do on that front. Exercises to strengthen those muscles again will be the best help. You'll never be perfect again but it can be better. Situps and other abnominal exercises are the best antidote.
I didn't have the itchy, weird sensations with #1 but do since #2 (almost 10mths now). My best friends had 2 c-sections too (kids are 6yrs and 4yrs now) and I ask her about the sensations not too long ago. She said she has had them too. What I feel is just a pins and needles kind of thing, like when your leg falls asleep, anytime I'm touched on my belly between my belly button and my scar. It also really hurts when the kids push or kick me near the scar. The lotion I have for strech marks has helped a little with the tingling feeling. Most likely it comes from damaged nerves either from the cutting itself or from scar tissue forming aroung the nerves. Unfortunately I don't think there's much to be done about it except time. However, its been 2 yrs for you and I would think that it shouldn't be as bad as you're describing still. Have you discussed this with your doctor, either your obgyn or your GP? You may need to have it checked out more thoroughly. If a doctor determines that its a beyond normal problem in your case, your insurance may pay for scar tissue removal.

I can't quite visualize what you are saying, but have you had a consultation with a dermatologist or plastic surgeon? A dermatologist might be able to give you some ideas on how to help the skin or scar; a plastic surgeon could tell you whether your $8,000 figure is correct. And if you've already done that and you really would need an $8,000 procedure to fix it, then start saving and meanwhile think about whether or not you are so bothered by this that that price is worth a chance to have it fixed. Also, consider whether you can press a claim against the physician who did your C-section. It doesn't sound like you have a normally-healed wound; was there possibly something wrong done during your procedure? Perhaps you could approach the MD who delivered your son and ask him/her to cover the cost of the fix, to avoid further action. Good luck.

is it literally a flap of skin or a roll of fat? You may always have a "shelf" type roll over the scar but if there is actually an extra piece of skin, a flap, then you should go to the ob who did the surgery. That should be able to be cut off and stitched up if it bothers you that much. The scar tissue will be numb, maybe forever. Mine is still numb on the actual scar and my daughter is almost 3. I wonder if something like Miderma would help the itching on the scar. It is for scarring but not sure about if it would help. What about cortisone to help it not itch? Just put a cold wash cloth on the entire area when it itches. Lastly, a tummy tuck is supposedly $5k so why is that surgery $8K? I am not sure surgery is what you need though if you already have the scar tissue. You may end up with more scar tissue. I am sorry you are having these issues, you may call a dermatologist since they specialize in skin.

Good luck, W.

J.- Hi! I also had two c-sections and know the flap you are talking about. You can shrink it but it takes some time. I started working out to get rid of the baby weight asap after the second and it took about a year to get all the weight off and see a visable reduction in my lower abdominals. I also had a lot of scar tissue (so much that for my second c-section they had to cut some of it out) and when I started working out it pulled so badly I thought something had to be wrong. Eventually though the pulling stopped and I was able to increase my workouts. My second is now 3 1/2 and it still itches occasionally below the inscision line---drives me crazy when it starts! I just put on some extra moisturizing lotion and wait for it to stop. Most importantly, I had to learn to love my new body and be thankful for the life it allowed me to bring into the world instead of wishing I could change it. Ok to be fair----I'm still working on the not wishing for my old body back!!LOL! But I AM much more accepting of it!
Peace

If you have insurance, they might pay for it if the surgeon classifies it as a scar revision. Your problem was caused by surgery and isn't simply vanity.

As bad as I hate to say it, sounds like you had a dr that wasn't too good at C-sections or cutting. Sounds like you have alot of scar tissue. My sister had one (in Wilmington) and you can't see her scar now and you would never know she ever had a c-section and there is NO flap or hard scar tissue. She wears bikinis.
I would think after 2 yrs it should be healed, although the itching is probably a good sign it isn't healed.
If I were you, I would go back to my OBGYN that did this and have him check it and tell him your concerns and let him see what it looks like. See what he suggests and what he says.
Good luck I hope it all works out for you.

This is a common side effect from C-section. While those of us who have only had vaginal births may still have extra weight, that "muffin top" or "shelf" is more accentuated after a C-section because of the scar that is stiff and can't move like unscarred skin. Add to that the itching and pain that sometimes accompanies the surgery, and it's a pain in the front!

Here is a product that I've read about, which is designed for women who have had C-sections -- the "C-Panty." (http://www.cpanty.com/) While its primary benefit is soon after surgery (it has a silicone patch that speeds healing), it also claims that it can help with the lingering after-effects, including the "muffin top."

Hope that helps!

I can't relate to the c-section because I had 2 vaginal births....but I eat healthy and exercise on a REGULAR basis and I can not get rid of that section of my stomach either. I know that the muscles underneath are strong but the fat on top WON'T go away. If anyone comes up with a solution short of surgery I would like to hear it too.
Jen

Well, you're not alone that's for sure. I don't even recognize my body in the mirror anymore. I had two C-sections and my sons are only 15 months apart, so I didn't really have time to recover from the first before I had to have another one! It is really hard for me because before my babies were born I didn't have to always eat like I was on a diet or work out regularly to maintain, so now I just can't seem to moderate my behavior enough to lose the weight. It is frustrating to say the least! I don't feel comfortable having my shirt completely off when I'm with my husband because I'm so self conscious about my stomach, someone please help us!

You might want to try Myrrh or Frankincense essential oil.

Don't waste your money on essential oils in the store though as they are all of poor quality, yes even those sold in the health food store are junk.

I sell therapeutic-grade essential oils and have a blog, you may want to read about Myrrh and Frankincense before making a decision...
http://aromatherapy4u.wordpress.com/2007/07/12/skin-sooth...
http://aromatherapy4u.wordpress.com/2007/07/06/frankincen...

I don't believe there is anything on the market that can actually heal scare tissue, other than certain super high quality essential oils - so you can save your money on those products by not even trying them.

Let me know if you have any questions.
E.

J.,

Yes, this is the most annoying c-section side effect--the 'muffin top' stomach! My daughter is 5, and mine is still there, no matter the weight loss. I couldn't feel the nerves there until last year. I don't have answers, but wanted to commiserate for what it's worth!

Hi J.,

I had 2 c-sections 18 months apart. The last one was 5 years ago. I still get that strange itch sometimes. It drives me crazy!! When they do a c-section, the cut through the muscles and then sew the top group and bottom group of muscles together and then sew the top ones to the bottom ones. They don't realign and resew the individual muscles. So, not only do we get the shelf, but a "corrective surgery" (tummy tuck) is much more complicated and much more expensive than on someone without the c-section scar. It wasn't as bad after my first, but the second one really did me in. As much as I'd like to fix it, I now consider it a reminder of my 2 healthy boys. My sister's trainer had a c-section and, even though she works out every day and used to compete in body building competitions, she still has it.

Good luck and if you figure out how to fix it, let me know!!

Regular exercise will help with the flap. ( I had a C too). Once you stop the exercise routine it can return and will if not kept in check. I worked at the local YMCA when my youngest was about 2yrs and being able to work out regularly did wonders. I had a thin line of extra skin, but that was it. Some of the women I discussed this with at that time had successfully worked that off too. It is possible to do, but you are going to have to be very agressive. As for the itch and pain,I'd only be concerned about it if there is redness or swelling too. You can take benedryl for the itch. It usually only took half a normal dose to make it go away.
Vitamin E (burst the capsul and spread the lotion on your scar) helps the scaring fade and speeds healing too.
Hope this helps.
L. C.

I have that flap, but not from a c-section. my babies decided to give me a tummy that looks like a road map, and a flap of excess skin just to make their mark on me. :P I have asked Drs, physical trainers.. exercise and watching what you eat will only do so much. About a year after I had my twins, my weight dropped down to 130, and I kept my body at that weight for a good 6 months, regularly exercising and everything.. and the flap stayed (the skin was actually worse when I was skinny... my tummy looked like a huge prune). Wound up gaining back my weight due to depression (am fine now), and my tummy looks better when I am fat.... but being fat is not worth it of course.
My husband and I have been saving for about 2 years now for my tummy tuck. Once I lose my weight again, I am going to have a tummy tuck, and hopefully a breast reduction (back problems). Anyways, you might eventually be able to get rid of that flap..... I figure it would take quite a while.. more than a year at least. I would call up your health insurance, SOME insurances cover ONE cosmetic surgery, and some will cover it due to itching and/or skin irritation. You need to talk to your Dr, and your insurance and cover all of the bases. Find out what u can. Sometimes you get blessed, sometimes you don't.