Your cesarean scar can feel like a strange new part of your body at first. It is tender, a little frightening to look at, and you may worry about getting the care right while also caring for a newborn. The good news is that most cesarean wounds heal well with simple, gentle attention.
This guide walks you through looking after the wound in the early days, what a healing scar looks like over time, when and how to start scar massage, and the signs that mean you should ask for help. Take it slowly, and remember that the scar will fade and settle far more than you might expect right now.
Keeping the wound clean and dry in the early days
In the first week or so, the main job is simply to keep the wound clean and dry. Your incision is usually low down on your tummy, just above the bikini line, and it may be closed with dissolvable stitches, with stitches or clips that need removing, or with surgical glue.
Your midwife or maternity team will tell you when the dressing can come off, often within the first day or two. Once it is off, you can let warm water run over the wound in the shower, then pat it dry gently with a clean towel or let it air dry. Avoid scrubbing it, soaking it in a bath, or using perfumed soaps directly on it.
Wash your hands before touching the area, and wear loose, breathable cotton clothing so air can reach the wound and nothing rubs against it. High-waisted underwear that sits above the scar rather than across it is far more comfortable than anything that cuts into the line.
When stitches or clips come out
If you have dissolvable stitches, they break down on their own over a couple of weeks and do not need removing. If you have non-dissolvable stitches or clips, a midwife usually removes them around five to seven days after the birth, often at a home or clinic visit. This is quick and should not hurt, though you may feel a small tugging sensation. Surgical glue simply flakes away by itself.
What a healing scar looks like over time
It helps to know the normal stages, so you are not alarmed by ordinary changes.
The first few weeks. The scar is usually raised, red or pink (or darker on brown and black skin), and tender. There may be some bruising and swelling around it, and a firm ridge along the line as the deeper layers knit together.
One to three months. The redness or darkness starts to fade and the scar begins to flatten. It may feel itchy as it heals, which is normal, though try not to scratch it.
Six months to a year and beyond. The scar continues to soften, flatten, and fade. Most cesarean scars end up as a thin, pale, flat line low on the tummy that is easily hidden. Scars carry on maturing for up to a year or two, so the final result is better than the early weeks suggest. The C-section recovery timeline puts this alongside the rest of your healing.
Numbness and the “shelf”
Two things often surprise new mothers. The first is numbness. The skin just below and around the scar can feel numb, tingly, or oddly sensitive, because tiny nerves were cut during surgery. Feeling usually returns slowly over months, though a small patch of numbness can be permanent. It is harmless.
The second is the “shelf” or overhang. Many women notice a small fold of skin and tissue that hangs slightly over the scar line. Early on this is partly swelling, which settles over the following weeks (our guide on swelling after a C-section explains how to ease it). Some overhang can remain longer term, especially if the scar dips inwards. It is common, it is not a sign anything has gone wrong, and gentle core recovery later on can help the area feel firmer.
Scar massage, silicone strips, and gel
Once the wound has fully healed, with no scabs, no open areas, and no signs of infection, you can start to help the scar mature. Always check with your midwife or doctor that you are ready before you begin, usually no earlier than six weeks.
Scar massage keeps the tissue supple and can reduce tightness. Using a clean finger and a plain, unperfumed moisturizer or oil, gently move the skin over the scar in small circles and back and forth for a few minutes a day. It should never be painful. Stop if the wound is not fully closed.
Silicone strips or silicone gel are the most evidence-backed way to help a scar flatten and fade and to ease itching. You apply them over a fully healed scar and use them consistently over several weeks to months. They are gentle and widely used. Our best products for C-section recovery checklist points to comfortable, practical options.
If your scar will be exposed to sun, keep it covered or use a high-factor sunscreen for the first year, as sunlight can darken a healing scar and make it more noticeable in the long run.
Be patient and consistent rather than expecting fast results. A scar matures slowly, and the small daily habits of gentle massage and silicone use add up over months. There is no need to do anything elaborate. A few minutes a day is plenty, and skipping the odd day will not undo your progress.
Clothing and everyday comfort
Small choices make daily life much kinder to your scar. Choose high-waisted, soft underwear and loose pants or skirts that sit above the wound. A gentle postpartum support band can ease the dragging feeling and help you feel held together when you move, though it should be comfortable and never tight against the incision. When you cough, laugh, or get up, holding a folded towel or a small pillow against your tummy to “splint” it takes the strain off the wound and is a great comfort in the early weeks.
Realistic expectations
It is easy to look at your scar in the first fortnight and feel disheartened. Try to remember that you are looking at it at its rawest. The redness fades, the ridge softens, the numbness eases, and the line that looks so prominent now becomes a thin, pale mark most people never see. Healing is not a straight line, and good days and slightly sore days are both normal.
When to seek help
Contact your midwife, doctor, or maternity team promptly if you notice any of the following:
- Spreading redness, increasing warmth, or swelling around the wound
- Discharge, pus, or a bad smell from the scar
- Pain that is getting worse rather than slowly easing
- A fever or feeling generally unwell
- Any part of the wound opening up, gaping, or separating
These can be signs of infection or a wound that is struggling to heal, both of which are treatable, especially when caught early. You will never be a nuisance for asking someone to take a look.
This guide is part of our C-section recovery series.
*Always follow the specific guidance of your maternity team, midwife, or doctor, as recovery advice varies by individual circumstances.*