Keloid scar with first csection, did yours improve with your second/third?

I developed a large keloid after my first (for me it’s some HEAVY genetics & all my scars go keloid). I had my second almost 4 months ago and it was a relief for them to cut out the bad one for sure. I’ve been wearing silicone on it this time from very early on, as soon as it was healed so just a couple weeks, 24/7 and so far it’s not puffing up! I can’t remember when my last one started to in all honesty so it still could, but either way if you already have one they’ll get rid of it which is nice

@Allie thanks so much for your reply that’s really helpful! And thank you- the midwife I saw at my 12 week appointment didn’t believe I could have a keloid because i’m white?! I’ve had to have steroid injections in my shoulder one it was so bad, was such a random thing to say! Anyway! That’s good to know, I’m definitely more leaning towards an elective csection to avoid another emergency one, I’ll use the silicone patches too, I think mine started puffing up after a month or two so that’s looking good! How far apart were your two sections? Mine will be 19 months apart!

I don't have keloid but I tend to develop hydrotrophic scars and about 95% of my incision is one. I made sure to ask for tension reducing stitches and I really believe it helped

@Victoria i’ve never heard of those?! I’ll definitely ask for them hopefully they do them in the uk!

Anyone and everyone can get keloid scars, this is where the healing tissue and cells multiply multiple times and cause the scar to be raised. Now if this is your only keloid scar it might actually not be one, majority of people who have keloid scars have them all the time for any scar on their body and it’s genetic, it could just scar tissue with a good massage and laser it can be minimised. If it is a keloid, the only way to remove this is with surgery, so with another section it’s unlikely it can make it worse.

How strange! They’re definitely more prevalent with darker skin but anyone can get them. @Lor mine were 18 months apart and I’m sooo happy I went for an elective after the emergency with my first. It was a great experience

@Charlotte hi Charlotte, I agree that anyone can get them. It is definitely a keloid, the doctor looked at both and confirmed. Like I said i’ve also had one on my shoulder but steroid injections completely flattened that one thankfully but I don’t fancy injecting my csection scar, especially now I’m pregnant. As keloids are genetic the chances are surgery will cause it to heal as a keloid anyway so any alternative options for aftercare are welcome

@Allie that’s so great to hear and reassuring as i’ll be in a similar boat! Thank you! 🤍

Its definitely more prevalent in people with darker skin, but anyone can get them. My skin is as pale as you can get but my first section healed horribly with a keloid all the way alone. It was nasty. My second section has healed far, far better, only 1cm at the initial incision is a keloid, the rest is flat. From my understanding, keloids are more likely to form after a traumatic injury/surgery, where your body is already exhausted. I will try and find the article i was reading a few years ago.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/keloid-scars/#:~:text=Causes%20of%20keloid%20scars,acne%20or%20a%20body%20piercing. NHS info on keloid scars.

My surgeon for my scheduled section said my keloid could have formed because my first birth was very long and traumatic, to the point my body was almost "overreacting" for the months after, leading it to heal badly. And i certainly understand what he means, as my second was so calm and relaxed, its like my body genuinely dealt with it so much better

@Kirsty I knew it was more prevalent my partner has quite a few but I thought it was daft the midwife refused to believe white people could get them 😂 that is soooo interesting! My csection was an emergency after 3 days of labour and my shoulder was a tiny mole removal that was closed into the thinnest little line but my skin grew over the stitches so they had to cut the stitches out and it became a huge keloid scar about 10 times bigger than the initial scar so I can definitely believe that! Also so great to hear about your second Csection being better! I’m so nervous about getting another as I didn’t enjoy my first at all but I hear elective is very different!

@Lor i dont know why your midwife wouldn't believe you 😅 its pretty clear when its a keloid 🤦🏻‍♀️ But yeah, there you go, its like your body was just calmly doing its thing with the mole removal and then it freaked out when it was reopened! I also had 3 days in labour 🙃 not a fun experience. I promise you though, my second section was such a breeze. Im going for my third in January, hoping its as calm and easy this time!

I had them with my first c section, used bio oil on my scar for awhile. They completely went away within time. My second c section haven’t had them at all I’m 4 months PP. I remember talking to my Ob about it and she did say they could cut them out for my second c section if they were still there!