If Your Abdominal Scar Bothers You, Watch This!

When an incision is made in your belly for any type of surgery — Cesarean, appendectomy, hernia mesh installment, hysterectomy, etc. — the nerves in that area are left somewhat exposed by the remaining scar, and the area can be uncomfortable or numb for years to come. When you have a c-section scar on your belly – or a scar from any trauma or surgery – or diastasis recti (check yourself of for that here) massaging that scar can be very helpful and healing. 

Scroll down for a free video about how to massage your scar!

According to Julie Tupler, RN the scar tissue left behind by a C-section or other abdominal surgery makes it harder to close a diastasis on the bottom of your belly, where the scar tissue is located. Plus, when there are deep wounds and scars that leave behind fascial adhesions and disconnect, it may be difficult for to look at your tummy, let alone touch it. 

In the video below that we filmed with guest expert Dr. Shannon Anhorn DC, you’ll discover how, starting with just a light touch, you can gently massage your scar and help those sensitive nerve endings adjust. Practicing self-massaging techniques, or asking a loved one or professional to do it for you, also serves to break up fascial adhesions that prevent the muscles from flexing the way they should.

Scar = Fascial Adhesion

The word “scar” is an everyday term for the external mark left after a deep wound. However, scars aren’t ever just skin deep. My surgeon who did my spine surgery told me to massage the surgical site on my neck every day once the wound healed to help prevent the scar tissue from spreading.

Long-term scar care includes:

• Daily massage with lotion or oil
• Proper hydration
• Nutritious diet full of healthy fats and proteins
• Exercising to mobilize the muscles in the area

Massage your tummy, taking it one tender touch at a time.

You can start with gentle motions that don’t require you to see or touch anything. Just breathing and engaging. Then those gentle motions create some strength and awareness and connection. Using a paintbrush at first may help, and if you experience a big emotional release, try our free Grief Routine.

With science now revealing that there are more nerves coming out of our gut than our brain, and the discovery of lymphatic vessels that go directly from brain to gut, we cannot deny how trauma to the area can affect us mentally, emotionally, socially, even spiritually.

If you haven’t considered The Tummy Team as a resource for your core healing journey, I strongly recommend you check out their comprehensive, holistic online programs for ab rehab, Cesarean prep, birth education, and more!

“Just had my first C-section scar massage and wow! I was so scared but for no reason, I am feeling nerves firing in that area that I haven’t felt for 9 months! Almost in tears right now, an area that felt so dead and weak is coming back to life! Just had to share! Can’t explain it properly but that area felt “dead” and now it is beginning to come alive again and I think the emotional healing from that alone will be huge!” —Fit2B Member, Josie L.

Yet there is beauty in brokenness — to the point that King David wrote in Psalm 51 that our Creator doesn’t want our burnt offerings, but our broken hearts — because that’s where the work of changing glory is done.

Oh but it’s hard to go there knowing that, isn’t it? It’s hard to lay down and let our hesitant hands flutter to the place that feels broken and damaged. So here is another whisper of hope for you:

You aren’t damaged goods.

Your diastasis doesn’t make you ugly.

You aren’t a failure.

Your stitched up stomach is still sexy — maybe more so, because scars are cool, right? Your belly tells of miracles — daily and monthly and yearly — many of which happen without our bidding: digestion, menstruation, reproduction, ambulation … yes, walking! It’s a miracle how walking uses our core so well and thoroughly!

And you don’t think less of your mate for their marks and malignments. They are aging along with you. Their body tells a story with its map of lines and wrinkles and topographical dimples just like yours … and just like you treasure the body of your loved one, they treasure yours!

Many thanks to Dr. Shannon & Alice

I absolutely love Dr. Shannon, who has contributed to our Experts on Diastasis ecourse. She has often tended my whole family when we have needed chiropractic care, and she always gets to the root of the problem, emphasizing that it’s not about the “pop” but about pursuing motion in all our joints.

The lovely model is none other than my long-time friend and co-founder’s wife, Alice Behnke. She has some amazing scars on her belly because it’s been through a lot, including emergency appendectomy!

Alice used to be embarrassed by her belly, but now she sees it as a strong place that can be used to help other women.

Alice writes this gorgeous blog and usually does my hair and makeup for Fit2B workout shoots. She also sets up most of our backgrounds for filming, arranging the fireplace mantels and bookshelves in our beautiful backdrops.

I have to say it was pretty neat to have Alice come out from behind the scenes. She’s as beautiful on camera as she is in real life, and I’m honored to call her my friend. I’m so grateful that Alice and Dr. Shannon were able to connect in Bend, Oregon to film this uberhelpful and insightful video!

Leave us a comment!

I hope you found this video helpful, and I hope you’ll consider Fit2B as a resource for all your belly-strengthening needs as we’re home to over 200 exercise videos and 12 fitness courses. Meanwhile, has scar massage helped you in any way? What are your tips for others who are worried about trying it?