How to Care for a C-Section Scar

last updated on: 03.06.2025 | Medical review by:

Mayara Belli

Nutritionist

Life as a woman is certainly not easy!! As if the worries and care with postpartum and a newborn baby weren’t enough, you also have to be concerned with caring for your C-section scar. This can be especially difficult for those who have to manage and take care of everything without help from a family member. For this and many other reasons, vaginal delivery is recommended for women, since the care required isn’t as intense as after a C-section.

Over the years even C-section scars have evolved. Previously, a thicker cut was performed, which ran vertically across the abdomen, leaving a very unattractive scar on the female body. After having a C-section, women would try to hide under increasingly covered clothing, even at the beach by avoiding bikinis and opting for swimsuits that didn’t reveal that unsightly mark. It was seen as a mark left to end femininity after motherhood.

Nowadays, medical care during the procedure aims to make the C-section scar as unnoticeable as possible, and to keep the incision as small as possible¹, although, of course, everything depends on the baby’s size. The incisions typically range from 15 to 20 centimeters, and require some aftercare to prevent problems, inflammation, or even the dreaded keloid on the scar. Cesarean delivery is currently one of the most requested birth methods worldwide and accounts for 84% of births in Brazil². However, it is still a surgical intervention, in which 7 layers of the body are cut to reach the baby, so it’s not such a simple procedure and deserves the aftercare given to any surgery—so don’t overdo it!! Of course, we all have our responsibilities, commitments, and household routines to manage, but being a superwoman is not always the best idea, especially at this stage. Slow down, ask for help, and do only what is truly necessary.

How to Care for a C-Section Scar

There’s no need to say that, as with any postoperative period, you need to rest, rest, and rest, right? That’s a tall order for someone who just had a baby and needs to care for them, and even more challenging if there are older children! Still, it’s something women should strive for during the postpartum phase, as not following recommendations strictly will just lead to more problems. The first two weeks after a C-section are the most crucial for proper healing. It’s not just the C-section cut, but your entire body returning to normal size, including your uterus, so take care. Leave aside household chores and do only the essentials, besides taking care of the baby, of course. After healing, all the work will still be there waiting for you, and you’ll have all the time in the world to catch up.

The area of the incision where the C-section scar will be requires special hygiene and care. It’s not recommended to use any specific hygiene products other than water and neutral soap. Creams and moisturizers should be avoided in the area, as the site should always be kept clean and dry. After bathing, carefully dry the scar and see your doctor if you notice any discharge or anything unusual. If you’ve had problems with keloids or slow healing before, talk to your obstetrician, who may recommend an ointment or other additional precautions to help the stitches heal. The C-section scar can heal in three ways: Atrophic, which is the ideal scenario—where the cut is thin and well healed and almost unnoticeable; hypertrophic, where the scar is fibrous and raised but only at the incision site; and the well-known keloid, where the scar is completely raised, very visible, and extends around the area. Therefore, during the healing process, if you notice any color changes, discharge, or odor in the area, you should see your doctor immediately for proper care.

For those who haven’t been able to properly care for their C-section scar or aren’t happy with how it turned out, there are now some cosmetic treatments that are evolving every day to address women’s concerns³. With laser-based treatments, it’s possible to reduce the appearance of scars, even those that are many years old. Another method that’s become popular recently is an ointment, sold in all pharmacies, that promises to lighten the area and improve healing. People who have used it recommend it for its beneficial effects, so it’s worth checking out!!

Photo: Andreia C. de Andrade

References:

1Nakano, A. R., Bonan, C., & Teixeira, L. A. (2016). Cesarean section, improving technique and standardizing practice: an analysis of the book Obstetrícia, by Jorge de Rezende. História, Ciências, Saúde-Manguinhos, 23, 155-172.
2Rodrigues, J. C. T., Almeida, I. E. S. R., de Oliveira Neto, A. G., & Moreira, T. A. (2016). C-section in Brazil: an epidemiological analysis. Revista Multitexto, 4(1), 48-53.
3Leonardi, D., Silva, C. A., Reinoso, M. M., & Silva, D. N. (2000). Keloid and hypertrophic scar: pathophysiology and therapeutic approach. Rev. méd. St. Casa, 1971-5.

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