What causes overhang in CS scars?

[PixieCake]

Can anyone tell me what causes the 'overhang' that you can get with a C section?

Is it related to how much weight you gain/loose?
Does it depend on the skill of the surgeon?
Is it more likely to happen after an emergency section than an elective one?
Is there anything you can do to minimise your risk of getting it?

Thanks in advance

i reckopn it's all down to the surgeon and there's very little you can do to influence it.

FWIW i was pretty slim throughout both pregnancies and only gained 2 stone each time. both were elective and although the scar was definitely neater after number 2, the stubborn little overhang stayed the same.

I feel like an intruder cos I'm nosing around C-Section threads for advice as a good friend has just had an emergency one...

But I have a quite ridiculous overhang, and have only ever had a vaginal birth, 11 years ago . I'm fairly slim but even when I exercise a lot & even get some upper stomach definition, the overhang never really goes away. If anything its a little more obvious (just to me, you can't really see under clothes) when the rest of me is in shape.

I'm wondering if
a) The belly overhang might be as much due to pregnancy & not much to do with the C-section. But I do need to say that I'm really ignorant about C-sections so feel free to ignore.

b)having just googled cesaerean overhang, I was quite disheartened to see 'oh, you'll end up with an ugly overhang' being used to put down women who want / need a C-section. Especially if there's a chance you might have ended up with one after a V-birth anyway.

I can hold a pencil under mine I wish I could do that with my boobs .

I don't have an overhang but do have a small ridge above my scar which you would notice in a side on view. I have had 2 ELCS - like QT only put on minimal weight (17 & 11 lbs respectively ) and exercised (running) throughout both pregnancies. Also used Palmers and Bio Oil and got no stretchmarks Both times the surgeons did a fab job on my scar too.

I have no overhang which I put down to my scar being really really low (planned CS under GA).

A friend of mine who is a midife said the specifics of your incision depend on your surgeon, and your own shape and size.

I guess no overhang does not necessarily equal a good surgeon though as this is not their number one priority especially in an emergency.

I was told time and time again after my section what a good job my surgeon did and how I would have no overhang nor visible scar. They were right, I have no overhang and all signs of the scar have complete disappeared.