Is the scar from a private CS better than NHS???

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Someone said this to me recently...it's rubbish surely?

She said that was why she wanted to go to the Portland, because she thought the surgeons would do a cosmetically better job of a CS than the surgeons would do on the NHS.

Now initially I thought that sounded wrong, then the more I think about it I think it sounds ridiculous. But I have no experience of a CS so I want to know what people with experience might say.

when did she have time to chat to the surgeon about being a runner and what sort of tummy she wanted during a crash section?

Had two private electives done by the same obstetrician. First one was good, second one was brilliant (and she cut the old scar out so it was even tidier). I did not have this done at the Portland, btw. Just want to point out two things, though:

1. Have seen a friend's NHS scar and it is really, really unobtrusive, obviously done by someone who was skilled/gave a damn about cosmetic effect so I think private or NHS, it's pot luck as to whether you get a good scar. Really depends on the person doing it!
2. This stuff about tummy tucks done during CS's is generally guff and an urban myth peddled by newspapers and mags, as you need a plastic surgeon to do a tummy tuck and it would actually be dangerous to deliver a baby and THEN do quite complex cosmetic cosmetic surgery. Although maybe in LA...

Actually hers wasn't crash section, I meant emergency section, sorry dont know why typed crash just got mixed up. Unlike me she was awake so I suppose could of been during, dont know

I have had 2 ELCS - the scar from my first (now cut out) was commented on my every medical person who saw it as beautifully done in fact my midwife even commented it was a shame they would cut it out for #2 as it was so good. That was done by someone doing their very first solo CS (under supervision) maybe they were being extra careful? My new scar is not quite as good as the old one but still a brilliant job and I can still wear a bikini and its very faded now 2 years on. I had no overhand with either and both were NHS.

Chynah, quite similar to your experience. My first was an emcs, the scar was horrible, raised, red, keloidal. I thought that was the way I healed.

For my elcs, I got the surgeon to cut it out and (very politely) asked if she could stitch it up so it did not heal so badly. She too was a junior surgeon being supervised by another. She took a long time but the result is a thing of beauty. You can barely see it.

NHS.

My NHS emergency CS scar is very, very neat. My friend who had an elective CS at the Portland had a vertical incision which was then stapled up very badly. She has never been able to find out why he did a vertical incision - can only assume he hadn't actually done a CS in 20 years.

It's about practitioner skill, which is about their volume of experience (and other things, like dexterity, tiredness etc obviously). You can get that on the NHS or private - or you can get unlucky in both sectors. It is an absolute myth that paying will guarantee you better clinical care.

I find it rather hard to believe that someone did a vertical incision and then stapled it up badly, at the Portland or anywhere.

It is boggling, isn't it.

orangehead ah, i thought i'd got my definition of crash section wrong then, couldnt work it out. all i remember before being knocked out for my cs was being grilled on exactly how much of a cereal bar i'd eaten hours earlier, one bite or two! i would have liked a chat about hobbies :)

woman in while i had ds had a vertical section scar. she'd had an ovary removed during pregnancy so they'd gone in a different way. she looked like a really sore hot cross bun :(

In answer to OP, no, many of the same surgeons on Private and NHS anyway.

If you want to have a neat scar you can get a bikini wax across the top of the pubic hair so that stubble isn't an issue for the first few days of healing. Also take arnica?

I had a registrar do my EMCS and my scar is only 10 months old and looks good, she used glue as apose to stitches or staples not sure if this makes a difference. Haven't got a private one for comparison but to be much better it would have to be pretty much gone at 10 months which I think is unlikely.

I had my 4th nhs section 6 months ago and can only see my scar if i look closely, its athin silvery line mostly conceled by hair.I recovered really quickly too,most nhs Drs also work or have worked in private practice,its more the overall care and time scales that are improved with private healthcare.Your friend is probably trying to justify the money she spent

i SECOND ARNICA TOO.