At about 12 to 18 months, a surgical scar is considered fully mature. After that, C-section scar massage won't provide the same healing benefits.
Massage is particularly effective in the first 6 months postpartum, however you can still benefit from the scar massage, even if it has been months or years since you had a C-section. Aside from that, it can take up to 2 years for the scar to fully heal and reach the maturation process.
As a general rule, following a vaginal delivery, you can receive massage as soon as you feel comfortable and would like to. Following a caesarean delivery, the standard recommendation is 4-6 weeks; after which point your incision will have healed and you will feel comfortable lying face down on the table.
Use comfortable pressure so that the scar can move but is not painful. After massaging the scar itself, massage the area around the scar by gently pushing the skin while applying pressure. In other words, give yourself a gentle abdominal massage. The aim is to loosen the scar from the tissue.
For best results, you should perform scar massage for at least 10 minutes, twice a day, for six months. You should only stop sooner than that if the scar starts showing signs of infection or you experience intolerable discomfort.
You should carry on massaging your scars for at least three to six months after your surgery or injury. What happens if I do not do anything? Your scar could become hard and inflexible or adhesions may form. Scars that cross a joint could stop you being able to bend or straighten the joint (a contracture).
For a few women too much scar tissue can form and leave the scar feeling tight and sore. You may notice or have been told by a midwife or physiotherapist that your tummy muscles have separated during your pregnancy. This is known as diastasis rectus abdominus muscle or DRAM.
Things like ab exercises, pelvic tilts and kegels can help build strength in the abdominal area to tighten the muscles and limit the look of an overhang after a C-section. However, as some of the causes include genetics and hormone levels, for some women, the way your stomach looks after a C-section is hard to prevent.
Surgical site infection can occur at or near a surgical incision. Bacteria can enter the body through the incision, leading to swelling or a hardness/thickening. Other signs of infection can be redness, heat, tenderness, and discharge from the wound. Sometimes wound infections can cause the scar to open up.
A cesarean section (C-section) is still considered a major surgery, and healing takes time. While most women feel significantly better after six weeks, the incision will go through different stages of healing before it is fully healed in about 6 to 12 months.
Once the scar is fully healed (also around 6 weeks) scar tissue massage can also be commenced. You can start by lightly massaging above and below your c-section scar to assist with desensitising the area.
C-section scar recovery
Your wound will take about 6 weeks to heal. You will have a scar but this will fade over time. Your scar will be 10-20cm long and is usually just below your lower tummy.
C-section scar pain typically lasts for 4-6 weeks, consistently improving week over week. With that said, some people experience pain and sensitivity in their scar for much longer.
Also known as a 'c-section shelf', a 'mum pouch', or an 'overhang', the bulge over your caesarean scar is a protrusion or swelling around the incision area, a combination of scar tissue, body fat and excess abdominal skin.
The RESTORE Caesarean Scar Specialist course is a blended (online and in-person) course, providing you with clear guidelines, knowledge and advanced massage skills to treat scar tissue and massage the abdominal area after a caesarean birth.
Why is there a hard lump under my scar? Certain areas of your scar might have an overgrowth of scar tissue or an increase in scar adhesion, this results in a hard lump under your scar. This can also cause scar hypersensitivity. Scar mobilization after the incision is fully closed can help increase mobility of the scar.
Getting rid of a mummy tummy or a C-section pouch usually involves a combination of lifestyle changes and physical conditioning. A balanced diet and regular exercise can help reduce excess fat and strengthen your abdominal muscles.
A pannus stomach or abdominal pannus is when excess skin and fat begin to hang down from the abdomen. It can occur following pregnancy or weight changes. Steps to help include using support bands or anti-chafing creams, lifestyle changes, or surgery.
Symptoms of C-section internal stitches rupture
Pus or bleeding from the incision site also warrants immediate medical attention. Excessive swelling, redness, or warmth around the incision site can indicate an infection that may lead to stitch rupture. This is often accompanied by tenderness and inflammation.
Before we get into it, c-section scar massage should not be performed before the incision has fully healed, typically around 5-6 weeks. If you have any redness, heat or swelling around the scar, please contact your medical provider before beginning scar massage.
“There's no normal” when it comes to how long it takes a C-section scar to completely heal, says Maidansky. It takes around 4 to 6 weeks for a C-section scar to heal on the skin level, according to Lady Bird Physical Therapy, but scar maturation can continue to take place for up to two years after your C-section.