Chinese Mothers Tattoo Over C-Section Scars

A tattoo is a great way to coverup the scars you were left with after a cesarean section. A Shanghai tattoo artist is helping dozens of Chinese women regain their confidence after birth - by offering free tattoos for mums who wish to hide their cesarean section scars.

"A tattoo makes a woman more confident. She will no longer feel ashamed to show her abdomen," said Shi, the 32-year-old owner of Samurai Tattoo in Shanghai.

Shi said he was inspired by Brazilian tattoo artist Flavia Carvalho, who offers tattoos to women physically scarred by domestic violence. He thought tattoos could help improve the self-esteem of Chinese mothers unhappy with their scars.

China has one of the highest C-section rates in the world, reaching a peak between 2004 and 2008 when nearly half of the country’s babies were born using the procedure, the World Health Organisation said in 2010.

This has created a niche market for creams, makeup and plastic surgery to hide the four to six inch scars left by the procedure. Some women spend up to 300 yuan ($43.44) for a 30 ml tube of silicone gel that promises to make their scars go away.

Others opt for laser surgery costing 2,000 yuan for each centimetre of scar treated. Tattoo artist Shi Hailei said he offers an alternative to mothers unhappy with the results from gels and tummy tucks. “A tattoo makes a woman more confident.

Grace Yuan, mum to a 3-year-old daughter, felt awkward showing her scar while working as a dance teacher (Picture: REUTERS/Aly Song)