Unhappy with C-Section Result
Discussion
My wife had a c-section 8 months ago, she knew there would be a visible scar and the possibility of her stomach not being completely flat, but she has been left with a large overhang above the scar (I cannot find anything online where there is such a significant overhang).
She went to her GP and he admitted that it should not be like that and suggested the quality of the surgery was poor. He has referred her for a corrective procedure but her appointment keeps getting cancelled. We are also pursuing the option of having it corrected privately.
I was wondering whether or not we have a case for medical negligence, it's causing my wife extreme anxiety and unhappiness, and now she is likely to have to go through further surgery to have it corrected.
In the grand scheme of things, this may seem insignificant, but my wife is extremely self conscious about her body and this is really affecting her mental health.
She went to her GP and he admitted that it should not be like that and suggested the quality of the surgery was poor. He has referred her for a corrective procedure but her appointment keeps getting cancelled. We are also pursuing the option of having it corrected privately.
I was wondering whether or not we have a case for medical negligence, it's causing my wife extreme anxiety and unhappiness, and now she is likely to have to go through further surgery to have it corrected.
In the grand scheme of things, this may seem insignificant, but my wife is extremely self conscious about her body and this is really affecting her mental health.
My wife was in the same situation after her second, I suspect it's subjective but I don't think she qualified for corrective surgery so she went private. It's a lot better but there are risks like an extended scar and keloid scarring too.
I wouldn't count on a GP's opinion qualifying as proof of negligence, my wife's first one burst, it's just one of those things that occasionally happens and I suspect that the pink (or green?) sheets that you sign before procedures will list things like this as potential issues.
I wouldn't count on a GP's opinion qualifying as proof of negligence, my wife's first one burst, it's just one of those things that occasionally happens and I suspect that the pink (or green?) sheets that you sign before procedures will list things like this as potential issues.
I expect longer healing time would have to be given before any claim can be pursued.
My wife had 2 and her scar has changed/reduced a lot over that last 10 years since.
I think initially she had a small over hang but that has since gone completely.
However I think we were lucky and they did a pretty good job.
My wife had 2 and her scar has changed/reduced a lot over that last 10 years since.
I think initially she had a small over hang but that has since gone completely.
However I think we were lucky and they did a pretty good job.
lord trumpton said:
It's called a 'muffin top' apparently. Happened to a friend of my wife
Fairly common and not through medical negligence as I understand it.
I thought a muffin top was less to do with c-secs and more to do with eating more calories than are burned Fairly common and not through medical negligence as I understand it.
I guess it's a tough call of which I genuinely don't know the answer to, but a C-Section 'shelf' is kind of a biproduct of having undergone that specific procedure so would think it would be hard to prove negligence. You have a tight scar with fat sitting above it so would assume it would be very difficult to not have some kind of overhang there as the scaring in this very specific area will do that.
One of my friends didn't have a c-sec, but was just unfortunate that two pregnancies really did mess with her body and she was left with an apron. She was also VERY conscious about it, so while not the same circumstances, she did have surgery to remove it. She has significant scaring but chose that (which will reduce) over the new pouch she seemed to have created!
I know we often joke about it on here, but I'd suggest a trip over to mumsnet (really!) and post there. I can only speak on behalf of my friend, but like your wife, she was VERY conscious and wanted it gone at all costs and couldn't be happier after surgery.
My wife had her scar from the first sorted out at the second. I never notice it but I could be unobservant.
I assumed the first wasn’t perfect because we had issues with wife and child so she got zipped up quick. The second child was a much more leisurely affair. She went into labour at 2AM and drove herself to the hospital. I stayed in bed until around 6 and headed over when the time was right.
I assumed the first wasn’t perfect because we had issues with wife and child so she got zipped up quick. The second child was a much more leisurely affair. She went into labour at 2AM and drove herself to the hospital. I stayed in bed until around 6 and headed over when the time was right.
XJ75 said:
In the grand scheme of things, this may seem insignificant, but my wife is extremely self conscious about her body and this is really affecting her mental health.
What's signficant is that a surgeon and anaesthetist saved your wife's and baby's lives.Complications of childbirth caused maternal and infant death within living memory in this country and are commonplace worldwide due to lack of obstretric and anaesthetic skills.
The best approach from a surgical point of view is a vertical incision. This is rarely used these days to give a better cosmetic result but the horizontal incision is no guarantee of cosmetic perfection.
I suspect the GP has never done a Caesarian (I have) and I doubt if they commented on the results.
Edited by oddman on Sunday 21st November 21:24
oddman said:
XJ75 said:
In the grand scheme of things, this may seem insignificant, but my wife is extremely self conscious about her body and this is really affecting her mental health.
What's signficant is that a surgeon and anaesthetist saved your wife's and baby's lives.Complications of childbirth caused maternal and infant death within living memory in this country and are commonplace worldwide due to lack of obstretric and anaesthetic skills.
The best approach from a surgical point of view is a vertical incision. This is rarely used these days to give a better cosmetic result but the horizontal incision is no guarantee of cosmetic perfection.
I suspect the GP has never done a Caesarian (I have) and I doubt if they commented on the results.
'
It really is a sad illustration of today's culture where folk want to sue the very people that turn up for work every day and save peoples lives, because they maybe didn't meet their expectations or maybe made a few errors.
OP maybe you'd be better off chasing the NHS for some CBT to help her address her self conscious issues as that will help her far more than some cash.
My OH had a C Section (emergency) eight months ago as well, I was fairly happy with the results though - a Healthy Mother and Baby. Despite things not looking like they used to.
Although commonplace I think people forget that a C Section is a fairly major operation. You can’t expect to cut through that amount of tissue and have it spring back into shape. I expect though, due to the “Too posh to push” brigade having a section has been glamorised.
It’s not that long back that Death to Mother and Baby during childbirth was a common occurrence!
Although commonplace I think people forget that a C Section is a fairly major operation. You can’t expect to cut through that amount of tissue and have it spring back into shape. I expect though, due to the “Too posh to push” brigade having a section has been glamorised.
It’s not that long back that Death to Mother and Baby during childbirth was a common occurrence!
oddman said:
What's signficant is that a surgeon and anaesthetist saved your wife's and baby's lives.
OP hasn't said if it was an emergencey op caused by complications at the time of birth, so needed to save lives, or whether it was a planned c section birth.Edited by oddman on Sunday 21st November 21:24
Not that it makes much difference but the inference that they should be grateful that two lives were saved and not complain about the after effects is not necessarily fair or correct.
Many women do have pre planned c section births as I am sure you know.
Monkeylegend said:
OP hasn't said if it was an emergencey op caused by complications at the time of birth, so needed to save lives, or whether it was a planned c section birth.
Not that it makes much difference but the inference that they should be grateful that two lives were saved and not complain about the after effects is not necessarily fair or correct.
Many women do have pre planned c section births as I am sure you know.
If the C section was an optional preference rather than medical necessity, then presumably the recipient should comfortable with the risks that come with such a procedure prior to making their choice. Changes to the appearance of the abdomen would be one such risk.Not that it makes much difference but the inference that they should be grateful that two lives were saved and not complain about the after effects is not necessarily fair or correct.
Many women do have pre planned c section births as I am sure you know.
Mastodon2 said:
Monkeylegend said:
OP hasn't said if it was an emergencey op caused by complications at the time of birth, so needed to save lives, or whether it was a planned c section birth.
Not that it makes much difference but the inference that they should be grateful that two lives were saved and not complain about the after effects is not necessarily fair or correct.
Many women do have pre planned c section births as I am sure you know.
If the C section was an optional preference rather than medical necessity, then presumably the recipient should comfortable with the risks that come with such a procedure prior to making their choice. Changes to the appearance of the abdomen would be one such risk.Not that it makes much difference but the inference that they should be grateful that two lives were saved and not complain about the after effects is not necessarily fair or correct.
Many women do have pre planned c section births as I am sure you know.
Not sure if OP has said which.
Monkeylegend said:
Mastodon2 said:
Monkeylegend said:
OP hasn't said if it was an emergencey op caused by complications at the time of birth, so needed to save lives, or whether it was a planned c section birth.
Not that it makes much difference but the inference that they should be grateful that two lives were saved and not complain about the after effects is not necessarily fair or correct.
Many women do have pre planned c section births as I am sure you know.
If the C section was an optional preference rather than medical necessity, then presumably the recipient should comfortable with the risks that come with such a procedure prior to making their choice. Changes to the appearance of the abdomen would be one such risk.Not that it makes much difference but the inference that they should be grateful that two lives were saved and not complain about the after effects is not necessarily fair or correct.
Many women do have pre planned c section births as I am sure you know.
Not sure if OP has said which.
Equally, consent to non-negligent complication does not serve as a defence to breach of duty.
However, as per my first comment, there is nowhere in this thread anything approaching the information which would allow the OP's question to be answered. Nor should there be either!
Monkeylegend said:
oscmax said:
there is nowhere in this thread anything approaching the information which would allow the OP's question to be answered.
My point exactly, the rest is pure supposition as is par for the course for a PH thread Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff