2nd section - what happens to first scar?

[Theseptemberissues]

I’ve chosen to go for an elcs this time after an emcs first birth. I was wondering what they do with the old scar? Do they cut through it and re-stitch? Or do they cut above/below and create a thicker scar?

Mine was cut away so I just have one scar. I think that’s typical but I have heard of others being left with multiple scars so I always ask at the pre-op appointment (I’ve had 3 sections).

Also only have one scar from two c-sections. Not sure how it was achieved though!

As RoseGarden said - the surgeon will tidy up and remove any scar tissue from the previous section so that you have a neat new scar. Might be worth you mentioning it beforehand just to check you're both on the same page and you know what to expect. Also if you have had any problems with the first section regarding healing/scarring.

My second section scar is about two inches above the first, it was an emergency section and I remember the surgeon popping his head over the sheet and saying 'I can't do it in the same place as the last one, is that ok?'

I thought 'And my options are.......?'

My first was hip to hip as they were in rather a hurry. My second they cut out most of the scar, leaving me with two inches of my original scar at one side. It looks like one continuous scar now and has actually healed better than my first. I was told that they try and use the original scar unless it's really thick/healed badly.

I just have the one scar - and it's neater than the original one was.

Just one scar here too.

I also have one - fairly neat - scar.

My second was a crash section under last minute general anaesthetic. The surgeon wasn't an obstetrician and said to me afterwards: "lucky there was a scar already there so I knew where to start" 🙄. It all looks very tidy now though, so he must have done something right!

They use the same one and tidy it up.
The consultant did an even nicer tidy up job during my hysterectomy. The scar is barely a white line. My self harm scars are horrendous after 20-30 years but my abs look almost unblemished .