Terrible Itching After Smart Lipo

There can be several factors that attribute to itching after a procedure. I always tell patients that a "crawling" feeling, itching and numbness are normal for several weeks after surgery.
There is also the possibility that you are having a mild allergic reaction to one of the medications. Make sure you let your surgeon know and see what they recommend.

A deep itch is very common after a liposuction procedure and it due to the nerves healing and "waking up" under the skin. It generally lasts for a few weeks and then subsides. Sometimes, the itch is on the surface of the skin caused by irritation from the compression garment especially if the garment has become wet. Removing and washing the garment if it becomes wet is recommended if this is the case.

This is one of the most common side effects after any type of lipo.  We warn clients that it may be experienced, although it is usually mild and self-limited.
The first approach is a topical cream with Benadryl, or maybe even Hydrocortisone twice a day.  A cool compress often helps and most client find this to be enough.
Anything worse than that should prompt you to follow up with your surgeon as soon as possible to avoid the possibility of anything worse.

By far the most common cause of itching after Smartlipo is the disruption of nerves during the procedure. This will resolve within a few days or weeks.  Irritation from the compression garment is also not uncommon. Less common is allergy to pain meds or antibiotics taken after surgery. These last two causes can be remedied by your doctor. The nerve disruption will heal on its own quickly.

If your skin is red and flaky in the area that you itch, the itching is probably from something external, and it could be the garment.  Itching after lipo is fairly common, though, and most patients find relief with Benadryl or an over-the-counter anti-itch cream/lotion like Sarna.

Itching post-liposuction can be due to several factors. It can be due to the garment that can irritate the skin. It can be due to the actual procedure in which the sensory nerve fibers are traumatized. During the healing process, the nerves "awaken" and can give the patient and itchy feeling. In addition, it can be irritation at the incision sites as well. Usually the itching gets better within a few days to weeks. You should definitely ask your doctor about this. Sometimes, anti-histamines like Benadryl or Claritin can help.

Itching is common to liposuction procedures. The cannulas will cause trauma to the nerve fibers as the they pass back and forth.
Studies have shown Smartlipo and all the other laser liposuction techniques to be more traumatic to the surrounding tissue than conventional liposuction or ultrasonic liposuction. But no matter, the itching will typically go away in anywhere from one week to six months.
Robert M. Freund, MD, FACS