Excess skin removal during c section

[youaremychocolatecake]

Hello everyone,
I often look on here for advice but I'm usually more of a lurker. However I was wondering if anyone might have had any experience with his or heard any similar situations.

During my first pregnancy 4 years ago I had quite bad polyhydramnios so my tummy was stretched out to extreme proportions compared to my frame (I'm 5'2") I ended up having to have an emergency caesarean and I'm not sure whether it was related to my sheer size, the emergency of the situation or if it was just one of those things but I was left with a huge flap of what I can only describe as excess skin hanging down over my scar area.

Obviously this looks quite bad aesthetically but that's not really my concern. My concern is that due to this 'flap' I had real trouble healing up from the op and kept getting infections and the wound re-opening etc.

So I'm due my second section in a couple of weeks and I was wondering whether it's as possibility to ask when I go and have the final appointment with the consultant if it's possible to remove this flap (i still have it despite 4 years of diet and exercise and a subsequent pregnancy) during the next section to aid with the healing process.

It sounds reasonable enough in my mind and despite not knowing anything about the medical side of things I can't see why it couldn't be done? I don't want to ask as look a fool though. I have tried googling but all I can did is people asking about a tummy tuck. That's not what I need or want to happen. Just the excess skin flap removed.

Thanks in advance and sorry for the long post x

And sorry for the typing errors. I am on my phone x

I think everything I've seen on the subject suggests its unwise due to the fact that straight after giving birth they don't they know exactly how much to remove and because your hormones affect the way you heal which can have an impact on how good the end results are. In short before you start removing skin you should give your body some time to recover and partly heal (which means a good consultant shouldn't do a tummy tuck at the same time as a CS despite popular belief).

I would do some reading along these lines before deciding whether its worth asking.

I had an inch of scar tissue removed when I had my second section. Not quite the same thing but it was worth doing. Chat to consultant?

I think it sounds reasonable in real life, not just in your head. Why not raise it with the consultant? It's your body and your health, so not at all unreasonable to ask. I'd emphasise the issues you had healing last time. good luck!

Thanks all. I accept my bikini days are over regardless. It's more the healing i'm worried about especially with the added bonus of a 4 year old to take care of ;) x

Its technically called an "apronectomy!" . I know the surgeon who did my friend's second c-section told her he had taken a bit of extra skin to help avoid overhang later. She didn't really have much loose skin though, so in your place I would talk to the surgeon beforehand and ask what is possible. Most women have a bit of a "shelf" after the second c-section, but as yours was due to a medical issue to start with and will affect healing I would imagine they would do what they can.

Personally I wouldn't because it would be hard to gauge how much your stomach is going to change after, and I could imagine a worse case scenario being them taking too much away leaving you very tight.

I don't think any consultant worth his salt would make this suggestion and actually do it for you.

Thanks all, will let you know what happens x

Make sure you approach it on medical grounds.

A friend had an EMCS and made a quip about a tummy tuck as she was being prepped. Surgeon wasn't particularly amused.

The vast majority of women are left with this after a caesarean.

It is only fixable by surgery as far as I am aware.

You can have the excess scar tissue removed at section. But that is all. On the NHS anyway. I have no idea what you could get privately.

I understand what you say about infection etc. But I'm 99.99% sure this isn't possible on the NHS.

I think it's worth asking, it will be interesting to see what's said.

I've just had my 2nd emcs & my stomach is terrible - it wasn't great before but I've been surprised at how bad it is now, especially since I only gained 1st the whole pregnancy. I do wonder if it had been an elcs by a consultant the outcome might have been different.

Good luck.

I think it good to point out most if not all abdominoplasties/apronectomies are carried out by plastic surgeons for a reason. An obstetrician would not be the best person for this type of surgery just as a plastic surgeon wouldn't deliver your baby.

Soooo, did you get it? X

@youaremychocolatecake hi there, currently pregnant with my third however has been 11 years since my last, had two c sections and when I saw my construction I asked him similar to you, as I had been cut on two different places I asked him which scar he would likely use (he said the bottom scar) So I asked if he could cut away the excess in between including the second scar as I have a pouch in between the scars with also a over hang, he said it's very possible however will have to make decision when sees my belly at term as this could make things too tight etc, so it's definitely worth mentioning I wasn't going to as I felt stupid but decided to bite the bullet