It takes around 6-8 weeks for a caesarean scar to heal after experiencing an abdominal birth. Throughout the healing process and for weeks or even months later you may notice tightness, discomfort, pain, itching, sensitivity or total numbness on and around the wound and surrounding areas.
Your scar may be raised, lumpy or totally flat and smooth…every scar is different but many women experience at least one of these sensations, I personally experienced most of them! How about you?!
So, what is going on under the surface?
Scar tissue forms when the layers of the skin have been broken through injury or surgery for example. Collagen is laid down to plug the wound and this creates a thick, fibrous mass. Instead of the fibres being laid down smooth as they were prior to surgery/injury they now criss-crossed all over in different directions to essentially pull the wound together. This makes it harder for blood to flow to and through the area, congests lymph flow, causes discomfort and can also affect your everyday movement or range of motion.
Massage can help to improve the texture of the scar, blood flow to the area to help with recovery and healing and sensations such as tightness and pulling.
Before undertaking any scar massage please wait a minimum of 8 weeks for the scar to fully heal or you may risk damaging the sensitive new tissue forming and reopen your scar putting it at risk of infection. If it is not healed after 8 weeks hold off until it has healed fully.
Once fully healed follow the guidelines below to massage your scar…
Step 1: Wash and dry hands thoroughly. Use a mirror or ask whoever is helping you with the scar massage to have a good look at it prior to starting. Use your fingertips to feel along your scar, above and below it and be mindful of what it feels like under your fingertips…does it feel sensitive, numb, lumpy, smooth? This will give you a good reference point for using every time you do it to help you notice the improvements.
Step 2: Use a tiny amount of oil (natural vegetable oils such as grapeseed, almond or coconut are ideal) and gently use your fingertips to massage small circles over your scar as well as above and below it.
Step 3: Next glide your fingertip along the length of the scar one way and then back the other way to offer the scar a very gentle stretch at either end.
Step 4: Use your finger pad to gently work from one side of the scar across to the other using a gentle downwards stretching action and then repeat with a gentle upwards stretch on the upper side of your scar.
Step 5: Take a couple of minutes to let everything settle down and then gently feel around as you did at the start to see what you notice. Use the mirror or get whoever is helping you to notice if it looks or feels different. Do you notice any different sensations?
You may notice that your scar and its surrounding areas are more red in colour, this is due to an increase in the blood flow to the area.
Scar massage should not be painful. It may feel a bit strange or uncomfortable but never painful. If it is painful reduce the pressure being used. It does not have to be deep to be effective. With newer scars a lighter touch is much more effective as it prevents damage to the new tissue formed. Never massage your caesarean scar for longer that 5 minutes at a time, the maximum recommended amount of massage to your scar is 3 lots of 5 minute massage over the area but taking around a 5 minute break between each pass to ensure you do not stress the tissues beneath the skin. No more than 15 minutes in total.
Please note that these techniques do not replace any medical advice or care in any way. These are simple self-massage techniques to help reduce scar tissue and sensations it causes once a scar has healed fully. If you are ever in any doubt or have had complications with your scar post birth seek advice from a medical professional prior to using these techniques.
Use your massage technique as couple of times a week but listen to your body. If it feels to sensitive after doing it once give the tissues a little longer before using the techniques again.
Please note that these techniques do not replace any medical advice or care in any way. These are simple self-massage techniques to help reduce scar tissue and sensations it causes once a scar has healed fully. If you are ever in any doubt or have had complications with your scar post birth seek advice from a medical professional prior to using these techniques.
Be sure to let me know in the comments how you got on trying these out and share your results below!
If you would like to book a professional appointment to work on improving the effects of the scar you have, reduce emotional and physical side effects, improve appearance or sensations please book your appointment HERE.
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