Your C-Section Scar: Healing Stages, Care Tips, and When to See a Doctor

The journey to postpartum recovery after a C-section can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. As long as you know how to properly care for your scar as it heals, you can ensure a smooth healing process.

Typically, a C-section scar is about 4 to 6 inches long. However, every scar is shaped by the type of incision your doctor made and your body’s natural healing process.

Types of incisions

There are several types of C-section incisions, which are grouped into two categories: 1 2

• Abdominal: This incision can be vertical (navel to pubic bone) or horizontal, just above your pubic hairline or your “bikini line.” The horizontal (transverse incision) generally results in better cosmetic outcomes with less visible scarring.
• Uterine: The incision on your uterus can also be horizontal (low transverse) or vertical (classical), and can be higher up along your midline or on the lower half of your abdomen.  This will not be visible to you.

The scar on your abdomen will sometimes match the one on your uterus, but not always. The types of incisions doctors opt for depend on several factors.

For instance, classical uterine incisions can complicate the ability to give birth vaginally in future pregnancies, so they aren’t usually doctors’ first choices, but they’re sometimes medically necessary. When a C-section is an emergency, such as in the case of very preterm labor, the incision may need to be classical. 3

Methods of closure

After your C-section, your surgeon may use one of various techniques to close the incisions: 4 5

• Surgical glue: This is an effective way to seal the skin, and it usually falls off after about a week. 6 You can still shower, but don’t try to wash any glue off. Instead, gently pat your incision with a clean towel. 7
• Staples: Your doctor may use surgical staples as a quick and easy closure method. With this method, if you develop a seroma or infection, it’s easier to treat since you can remove just a couple of staples and not interrupt the entire incision.
• Dissolvable sutures: You don’t need to worry about removing these stitches, as they’ll dissolve on their own within two weeks. You’ll probably be able to shower after 24 hours with these, although you may need to avoid baths. 8

To help seal the wound, your doctor may also use small, sticky bandages called Steri-Strips in combination with one of these other closure methods. They’ll usually fall off after about a couple of weeks and can be removed after that if they don’t—as long as your doctor agrees. 7

Whatever the closure method, contact your healthcare providers if your wound reopens after the Steri-Strips are removed (or after they fall off naturally).

You should be able to shower 24 hours after your surgery, provided your doctor says it’s okay.

What to expect from your body’s healing process

Surgical scars often start red and raised, but heal to a flat, fine line. They often appear pale on tan skin and brown or white on darker skin tones. 9

However, your scars may become raised, darker and itchy, and a buildup of collagen can make them appear lumpy. This type of scar is known as a hypertrophic scar, and shouldn’t expand beyond the borders of your original wound.

If the buildup becomes more pronounced and does extend beyond the incision, it’s known as a keloid, which is more common in those with darker skin. 10

Your C-section incision will pass through three stages of healing: 6

1. Inflammatory stage (days 1–3): During this initial phase, your scar stops bleeding, and your body guards against infection by producing more white blood cells. The incision will probably be swollen and red or pink.
2. Proliferative stage (weeks 1–4): Next, new blood cells form at the incision area, and your body produces more collagen to restore the damaged tissue and close the wound. This causes the scar to thicken and change color, although it may remain reddish and slightly swollen in this first month.
3. Remodeling stage (months 1–12+): As you heal, your raised scar tissue gradually flattens, softens, and fades.

During the first month, you may experience itching, burning, or muscle spasms in the incision area. While you can’t exercise or have sex after a C-section right away, you should be healed enough to resume after about 6 weeks, assuming your doctor clears you to do so. 11

Even so, you should still listen to your body. If something feels uncomfortable, stop and get yourself checked out before you try again.

Here’s what you can focus on to minimize complications and ensure your scar heals properly:

Hygiene

While your wound is healing, avoid soaking in baths, hot tubs or swimming pools to lower your risk of infection. You may need to wait 2 to 3 weeks (or until your doctor says). 7

During your daily shower, gently clean the incision area with mild soap and water—no scrubbing or rubbing. Afterward, carefully pat the area dry with a clean towel that you don’t use anywhere else on your body. 7 Ensure the wound is completely dry, especially if your skin folds over the incision.

In general, you should avoid touching the incision, even if it’s itchy. If you absolutely have to, wash your hands thoroughly before and afterward.

Medications

Talk to your doctor about your pain relief options. Over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen can help, and they’re fine to take in the postpartum period. 12 If your doctor recommends any creams or ointments, apply them as directed.

Clothing

To avoid irritating the incision, wear loose-fitting clothes and high-waisted underwear made of a soft, breathable material like cotton. The right clothing can also reduce your sun exposure, which can darken your scars and make them more noticeable, especially when they’re new. 13 14

Until your scar heals completely, avoid using sunscreen on the area. Just keep it covered when you have to spend time in the sun.

Avoiding strain

Don’t strain yourself by lifting anything heavier than your baby, taking too many stairs, or exercising too much. You may be told not to drive for 6 weeks, or until you aren’t taking any opioid pain medications (per your doctor’s instructions). 15 To stay active, try gentle activities, like short walks, which promote blood flow and reduce the risk of blood clots.

During sudden movement—laughing, coughing, sneezing—your wound needs support. Apply light pressure with your hands (as long as they’re clean) or a pillow or towel. 16

Dressings

If your doctor uses dressings on your wound, you can change them as directed. Before you do, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, and avoid touching your wound directly. 17

Once your wound is fully healed, ask your doctor about integrating 5–10 minutes of daily scar massage. While there’s limited evidence indicating how effective scar massages really are, some women find that they ease their discomfort. 11

Here’s how you start: 17

Massage preparation

Before your massage, take a bath or use a heat pack to relax your muscles and get your blood flowing in the area.

Next, get into a comfortable position, using pillows for support as needed. To enhance the experience, you can use unscented lotion or natural oils such as almond, coconut, or olive oil, as long as you’re not allergic to them.

Massage techniques

Even after your scar heals, it may still be tender or painful when you touch it. You can desensitize the area by rubbing a soft cloth or cotton ball against it, gradually increasing the pressure and changing to direct contact with your fingers as you get accustomed to the feeling.

Try out the following massage techniques, alternating between them depending on what you can handle: 17

• Circular motion: With your fingertips, gently massage the area around the scar in small circles, switching between clockwise and counterclockwise motions.
• Up-and-down: Use an up-and-down or side-to-side motion with your fingers. Let your pain guide you; if it hurts too much, apply less pressure. It’s normal to get a tingling feeling as you stretch the tissues.
• Lifting (distraction): Gently pinch and lift the scar between your thumb and forefinger, pulling it away from the underlying tissue. It may take some time before you feel comfortable enough to do this.

Be careful—you could exacerbate your wound if you massage the area before it’s fully healed. If the incision is swollen or red or if the pain is more severe than mild discomfort, it’s best to wait a little longer before trying again.

As you recover, you may get an itchy, tingly, numb, or painful feeling in the incision. This is caused by nerve damage, and it should improve over time.

Avoid picking at or scratching the area—no matter how tempting it might be—as this might lead to infection. Instead, use a cool compress or mild anti-itch cream recommended by your doctor. You may also be prescribed medications like gabapentin to block the nerve pain. 18

How can you tell if your C-section scar is infected?

Even with proper care, your C-section scar could become infected. See your doctor right away if pus begins oozing from it or if the area becomes red, swollen or hot to touch.

You should also talk to your doctor if you experience any of the following: 19 11

• Chest pain or trouble breathing
• Fever over 100.4 °F
• Pain while peeing
• Significant postpartum swelling or pain in either or both legs
• Sudden or sharp abdominal pain
• Foul odor from vaginal discharge
• Vaginal bleeding that soaks a pad within the hour or that has blood clots larger than a plum

Your doctor may recommend antibiotics or further medical intervention depending on how bad the infection is. Regardless, it’s important to catch it early.

Is it normal to still feel pain years after having a C-section?

Unfortunately, yes, you may experience persistent pain due to nerve damage or scar tissue buildup. You can also experience chronic pain in your pelvic area due to the surgery’s effect on the surrounding muscle and tissue. 20

If you have lingering pain, try the massage techniques outlined above and get in touch with a physical therapist who specializes in pelvic floor therapy.

To reiterate, if you feel a sudden increase in pain, you should contact your doctors immediately.

What happens if your C-section doesn’t heal properly?

If your incision doesn’t fully heal, you may also develop a C-section scar defect (CSD), also known as an isthmocele or uterine niche. This happens when the incision in your uterus causes a depression or pouch that weakens the area.

It can result in chronic pelvic pain, abnormal bleeding before or after your period, and future infertility and pregnancy loss. 21 Fortunately, the condition is treatable, although that can require surgery.

While your C-section scar is nothing to be ashamed of—it’s a testament to your strength!—it’s okay to explore options for fading it.

Most scars take around 6–18 months before they reach their final appearance. This gives you enough time to try low-risk, conservative treatment options before moving on to more invasive procedures. 22 23

Conservative measures

Here are a few easy ways you can help your scar fade, many of which boil down to just taking good care of it (which you were hopefully doing anyway):

• Silicone strips or gel: Silicone hydrates and softens scar tissue, improving its appearance over time. Once your scar has healed, apply silicone strips or gel sheets for several hours each day. 24
• Sunscreen: Protect your scar from sun exposure. This won’t directly fade it, but as mentioned, the sun can make your scar more prominent, which you want to avoid. Remember to use sunscreen only after your scar has fully healed.
• Healthy diet: A nutritious diet can support the healing process, especially one that’s rich in iron, protein, zinc, and vitamins A and C. Add whole grains, fruits and vegetables to your meals. 25
• Physical therapy: Some physical therapists claim that techniques like cupping can lift your scar and prevent it from “sticking” to the deeper layers of your tissue, making it less prominent. 26 There’s limited evidence to suggest that cupping actually works, and it may even leave you with some unpleasant side effects—including further skin discoloration—but you can talk to your doctor about it if you’re still interested. 27

Cosmetic procedures

If you have a stubborn scar that doesn’t want to fade, you can also explore these options. However, they’re significantly more invasive than the remedies mentioned above, so talk to your doctor first:

• Laser therapy: Lasers can reduce redness, smooth irregular scar borders, and improve your scar’s texture and color. Note that it may take multiple sessions to fully remove your scar. It might be months before you see any results at all. 28
• Steroid injections: Cortisone injections—particularly Kenalog (triamcinolone)—can flatten raised, lumpy, or itchy hypertrophic or keloid scars. 29
• Scar revision: If your scar is especially stubborn, your surgeon can remove tissue from the incision and re-close it with stitches, resulting in a thinner, less visible scar. 30
• Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty): Sometimes, you may develop a C-section shelf, also referred to as an overhang or pooch, above your scar. A tummy tuck can remove the excess skin, scar tissue, and fat. 31

If all else fails or if you just want to be a little creative, you can also consider covering the scar with a tattoo once it’s fully healed. However, choose your tattoo well, as it will change appearance when you gain or lose weight (especially if you become pregnant again in the future).

During your postpartum recovery, caring for your C-section scar is a necessary act of self-love. While the healing process will take time, remember that every small step—whether it’s gentle cleaning, massaging, or just giving your body the rest it needs—is also part of motherhood. With the proper care and attention, both you and your scar will heal.