As a rule, caesarean section in most cases ends with the application of external cosmetic sutures, which heal with the formation of an inconspicuous and thin scar. At the same time, the duration of the recovery period, as well as the quality of the resulting scar, will largely depend on the care of the cut surface. Complications of cosmetic sutures after caesarean section are very rare, but they are successfully eliminated if you seek help from a specialist in time. Over time, the external scar can be corrected with the help of hardware, cosmetic, and surgical procedures. In this article, we will get acquainted with the features of cosmetic sutures after cesarean section, photos, as well as the features of care. But first you need to figure out what this operation is.
Caesarean section
Caesarean section is an abdominal operation, which is accompanied bysequential dissection of soft tissue layers. As a rule, after the fetus is removed, the soft tissue layers are connected using suture material.
Almost always, the edges of the external incision of the abdominal anterior wall are fixed with a cosmetic suture after a caesarean section. After healing of this seam, an imperceptible and thin scar appears. In most cases, he does not cause any discomfort to the patient, neither psychological nor physical.
How long does a caesarean section take? As a rule, this procedure takes about 30-40 minutes. However, please note that if such an operation is not the first, then the duration may be longer. Therefore, it is impossible to unambiguously answer the question of how long a caesarean section lasts.
Varieties of external seams and incisions
Regardless of location, size and other factors, the incision of the outer tissue may be transverse or longitudinal. A longitudinal cut is also often referred to as a vertical cut. In medicine, it is called "corporal caesarean section." Such an incision is made over the entire surface of the abdominal wall, starting from the navel and ending with the pubis.
This type of operation is used only in emergency cases, when the patient or the fetus needs emergency ambulance. In such a situation, due to the high risk of muscle tissue separation during exercise, their integrity is restored with a simple, rather than cosmetic, suture. However, there are other indications for corporal caesarean section.sections, which are as follows:
- Varicose veins in the lower part of the uterus.
- Pronounced adhesive process, as well as the inability to penetrate to the lower segment of the uterus.
- Significant prematurity of the baby, as well as the unpreparedness of the female body for childbirth.
- Planned excision of the uterus after surgery.
- Presence of a longitudinal scar after a planned operation.
- Necessity to extract a live fetus from a dying or dead woman.
- Fetal abnormalities such as fused twins, transverse position and more.
Today, in the case of uncomplicated planned caesarean section, laparotomy is most often used, which provides the best aesthetic effect with the highest scar strength. A transverse large incision is made in an arc above the pubis. The scar that forms after this action almost merges with the fold of skin in the lower abdomen, and most often it is difficult to distinguish.
Cosmetic stitch after caesarean section
The type of threads and the technique of suturing the resulting wound are selected depending on the characteristics of the operation, as well as in accordance with some diseases or complications that the patient has. To apply a cosmetic suture after a caesarean section, atraumatic special needles are used, as well as other instruments used in the field of plastic surgery. As a rule, these instruments do not injure the skin and subcutaneous fat of patients. The suture material is thinmonofilament or polyfilament and silk, lavsan or synthetic thread.
Today, subcutaneous sutures are most often used, which are able to dissolve on their own for several weeks after surgery. If for some reason it is not possible to impose them, then the integrity of the tissue can be restored with non-absorbable threads. In this case, the ligature is removed approximately one week after surgery. The removal of stitches, as a rule, in patients coincides with the day of discharge from the hospital.
Seam features
What are the features of a cosmetic seam? These should include:
- Passes through the skin.
- Performed with special atraumatic needles, as well as very thin threads.
- Forms an inconspicuous and thin scar that will not cause any discomfort to a woman.
- Virtually invisible on the surface of the skin.
You can clearly see in the photo what the cosmetic seam looks like. During the application of this suture, the surrounding tissues are much less injured than in the case of using the usual technique of suturing the layers of the skin. This method not only allows specialists to achieve the maximum aesthetic result, but also significantly reduces the risk of developing various complications. In addition, such a cosmetic suture significantly accelerates the recovery of the patient. This is precisely the difference between a cosmetic seam and a regular one.
A postoperative thin scar is formed due to the use of special self-absorbable threads: lavsan, silk, prolene or vicryl. Such materials are able to withstand a strong load, as well as provide a very reliable healing of postoperative wounds.
Can I shoot myself?
So, we have examined the difference between a cosmetic seam and a regular one, as well as its features. But is it possible to remove it yourself at home? Experts say that it is not necessary to remove the intradermal cosmetic suture. After 3-4 months, the sutures dissolve on their own without the use of any additional procedures. But if the patient has complications in the form of a divergence of threads or inflammation of the suture, then you need to seek help from your doctor.
Features of seam care
Many women who have undergone this kind of operation are wondering how to handle the suture after cesarean, and also how long the wound will heal. Provided there are no complications, superficial restoration of muscle tissue occurs within 2 weeks. The final scar is formed after 12-18 months. The duration of the recovery period will directly depend on the quality of care for the surface of the scar. That is why it is so important to know how and how to process a suture after a caesarean section.
Post-op care
When in the hospital, the surface of the seam is daily treated by specialists with special antiseptic solutions, and applied on topsterile, breathable dressings.
For several days after surgery, a woman should also take painkillers. In order to prevent the development of infectious and inflammatory processes, broad-spectrum antibiotics are prescribed.
Physical activity should be increased gradually, preventing possible damage to the ligature.
How to care at home?
In order to normal tissue scarring after discharge, a woman must follow certain rules and recommendations, which are as follows:
- Before the caesarean section suture is completely healed, it must be disinfected. To do this, you can use chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide or any other antiseptics, but you should still consult a doctor in advance.
- You should also wear a special bandage after a caesarean section. It limits the mobility of soft tissues. In addition, a bandage after a caesarean section will eliminate the possibility of sutures coming apart.
- It is necessary to take air baths several times a day, while exposing the lower abdomen.
- Strong physical activity should be limited, as well as lifting heavy objects weighing more than 2 kg. Your baby must be taken in your arms, pressing to your chest. During this action, the postoperative bandage, which was discussed above, should also be worn on the stomach.
- Mechanical effects on the wound surface should be avoided. Therefore, do not scratch or rub your stomach, use hardtowels, cosmetics, and wearing uncomfortable clothing with belts and stiff belts.
- Showering is permitted only after stitches have been removed.
- It is imperative to monitor the recovery of the muscle layer and uterus using ultrasound at the time prescribed by the doctor.
In addition to the fact that it is necessary to put on a postoperative bandage on the stomach, you should also smear the scar with olive, sea buckthorn and other oils. After consulting with a specialist, you can use Contractubex or Solcoseryl to speed up the healing process.
Recovery after surgery
The duration of the rehabilitation period will largely depend on the individual characteristics of the female body, the professionalism of the doctors, as well as the quality of the surgical intervention. Despite this, for some time, most patients after cesarean section may experience discomfort of various nature and intensity. Normally, the following symptoms may occur, even if you know what a cosmetic suture after a caesarean is and how to care for it:
- Moderate pain in the area of the anterior abdominal wall for 3-5 weeks.
- Dense and prominent scar up to two months after surgery.
- Isolation of an ichor, which is a yellowish or transparent liquid, with a slight admixture of blood from the wound during the first week.
- Skin moderate itching for 2weeks postpartum.
If all of the above symptoms cause severe discomfort and anxiety to the patient, it is necessary to report them to your doctor. If itching, pain, burning sensation, as well as discharge do not go away during the specified time or increase, then mandatory medical assistance will be required.
Possible unpleasant complications
So, we have considered how long a cosmetic suture heals after a caesarean section. However, this time may be delayed if the patient has various kinds of complications. The early ones include the following:
- Inflammatory process in the wound after infection has been introduced there. As a rule, this is accompanied by swelling of the seam, suppuration, as well as swelling of the surrounding skin. In parallel with this, the patient's body temperature rises, chills appear, and general well-being worsens.
- The divergence of the contour of the wound, as well as the rupture of the threads. In most cases, this occurs due to early removal of threads, as well as high physical exertion or injury.
- Hematomas and bleeding due to extensive vascular damage or individual vascular diseases in a woman in labor.
All of the above early complications are usually diagnosed in the hospital or during the first days after the patient is discharged. Treatment will depend on the severity and nature of the pathology. Therapy includes the use of antibiotics, hemostatic agents, and additional suturing or dressing of the wound.
Most unpleasant consequencescaesarean sections manifest themselves a few months after childbirth. The most common late complication is the appearance of ligature fistulas, which are formed due to the reflection of the suture material by the human body, as well as infection of the thread. Symptoms will be as follows:
- Periodic suppuration.
- Slight pain and redness in the scar area.
- The gradual appearance of several or one hole in the skin, in which you can see the ligature stitches.
In case of signs of ligature fistulas, you should immediately contact the clinic for surgical removal of the remaining threads, as well as for wound treatment.
As for the most rare complications, this should include keloid scars and hernias, which are bulging of soft tissue on the surface of the scar. Keloid scars do not pose any threat to the he alth of the patient, they only cause cosmetic discomfort. As a rule, such scars appear only in those women who have a predisposition to strong tissue growth.
Re-suturing
In the most advanced cases, specialists are forced to completely remove the existing scar, applying the ligature again. This will depend on how badly the muscle layers, skin and subcutaneous tissue were damaged. Often, cosmetic stitches are replaced with regular stitches.
The recovery period after another surgical intervention will be increased several times. Whereinattention should be paid to the fact that the re-formed scar will become the most convex, noticeable and rough. That is why, if any suspicious symptom occurs, signaling a violation of normal wound healing, you should seek help from the clinic, avoiding any serious consequences.
Scar Correction
Even a well-made suture after a caesarean section will not guarantee the formation of a thin and neat scar in the future. Years later, some women complain of brightly colored, uneven in width, indented or protruding scars. Fortunately, there are several correction methods, for example:
- Scrubbing and peeling with the use of special cosmetic preparations that can be used independently at home. They can only be used for external scar improvement after consultation with a therapist or cosmetologist.
- Hardware polishing of the scar with abrasive nozzles, which is carried out in specialized clinics. To achieve a lasting and visible result, a similar procedure should be carried out in several sessions.
- Laser resurfacing, which provides a deep effect on the scar and allows you to get rid of severe irregularities.
- Abdominoplasty, which is a surgical tightening of the abdominal muscles with the formation of new scars, but of the smallest size.
- Injections of drugs that prevent the growth of a keloid scar.
- Massage. Do not expect a global effect from this procedure. However, some improvement can be made. Special massage movements and creams will help to enhance the softening effect, as well as reduce scars. Massage is started only after the sutures are completely healed, with smooth, gentle movements, slightly pressing on the scar with fingertips. The procedure must be repeated several times every day for 5 minutes.
It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that these methods have a number of contraindications, and also do not allow a woman to completely get rid of the resulting scars.
Cost of a cosmetic stitch
How much does a cosmetic stitch cost after a caesarean section? As a rule, the cost will vary, depending on the complexity of the operation, as well as on the region and the level of the clinic. It should be noted that in state clinics this procedure is carried out absolutely free of charge. If we talk about paid clinics, then here the cost will be several thousand rubles.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that cosmetic sutures after caesarean section are increasingly being performed not only in private clinics, but also in public ones. However, it is still worth checking with surgeons in advance which sutures they will apply.
