Full recovery from a cesarean section (C-section) can take six to eight weeks, but some women feel itching, pain, and tightness in and around the healed incisions for months or even years. These symptoms, plus visual changes around the scar, can make any woman feel discouraged about their post-baby belly, but you don’t have to accept these results forever.

Dr. Caroline Szpalski, a leading plastic surgeon and aesthetic expert in Montclair, NJ, offers surgical options for women who want to lessen their pain and discomfort, move more freely, and minimize their scar’s appearance. In this blog post, we’ll explain why C-section scars hurt or itch, and what you can do to feel better.

Is It Normal for C-Section Scars to Hurt or Itch?

C-section scars typically itch and hurt while healing, especially in the first few weeks after surgery. These feelings are a normal part of your body’s complex wound-healing process, which includes swelling, tissue regeneration, and rebuilding nerves.

However, if your discomfort persists longer than the typical six-to-eight-week recovery period, or if it interferes with your daily activities or emotional well-being, it may mean your scar hasn’t healed well. Long-term scar pain and itching points to healing complications, and you don’t have to accept it as your new normal.

Why Do C-Section Scars Hurt?

All surgeries involve pain during recovery, and a C-section is no different. When you have a C-section, your surgeon cuts through seven layers of tissue, from the skin to the amniotic sac. Once the baby is out, they close internal layers with dissolvable stitches and use metal staples to secure the final layer of skin.

The healing process can cause some pain. Here’s why:

• Nerve regeneration or damage: As your nerves regrow and connect, you may feel pinching, burning, shooting, or sharp pain around the incision.
• Adhesions (internal scar tissue): Your body’s natural response to surgical incisions includes scar formation. But sometimes, internal tissue can fuse to other tissues, which can cause a pulling pain.
• Tension or pulling: You can also feel pulling or tugging pain from poorly healed incisions that tug the skin in odd directions.
• Thick or raised scars: Keloids or hypertrophic scars can put pressure on nerves, causing shooting pain.

C-section pain should fade over a few months, and any pain beyond that may need further treatment.

What Causes C-Section Scar Itching?

As your body works to heal your C-section incision, several factors can cause itching:

• Histamine release: This chemical, known for its role in allergic reactions, also helps heal wounds by attracting immune cells (white blood cells) to the area, which fight off infection but may cause itching.
• Nerve irritation: Nerves around your C-section incision can get stimulated as they heal, which may feel itchy.
• Tissue growth: As cells rebuild the skin, they can release substances that trigger an itching sensation.
• Dry skin: Healing skin can get dry, which may also cause itching.

Although itching is a normal part of C-section healing, itchy discomfort that doesn’t go away may mean your wound isn’t healing well.

When to Ask for Help: Signs of Abnormal Healing

How can you tell if your C-section scar is healing well? Here’s what to look for:

• Pain that hasn’t improved or has gotten worse three or more months after surgery
• Redness, swelling, or warmth around the incision
• White, yellow, or green drainage from the scar
• Foul odor from incision drainage
• Itching alongside thick, raised, or rope-like scar appearance

If you experience any of these, or feel emotional distress over your scar’s appearance, you can schedule a consultation with Dr. Szpalski to discuss your options.

C-Section Scar Revision for Pain and Itching Relief

If your C-section scar still hurts and itches, or its appearance bothers you, a scar revision may help. C-section scar revision, a surgical procedure, can improve both the appearance and discomfort of a poorly healed scar.

During this surgery, Dr. Caroline Szpalski, a highly trained female plastic surgeon, removes and adjusts scar tissue to offer you more flexible and healthy skin, less pain and itchiness, and natural-looking aesthetic improvements to the area.

Can My C-Section Scar Revision Be Covered By Insurance?

C-section scar revision surgery is often covered by health insurance plans, but Dr. Szpalski will need to get approval from your insurance company. This process may involve submitting a letter and photos as well as various documentation.

Your C-Section Scar Revision Consultation with Dr. Szpalski in New Jersey

At your consultation with Dr. Szpalski in our New Jersey clinic, you will experience compassionate care coupled with a profound grasp of women’s needs. Dr. Szpalski’s extensive surgical experience and skills make her one of the top scar revision surgeons in the Tri-State area, so you can feel confident in your surgical plan from start to finish.

During your consultation, Dr. Szpalski will examine your C-section scar and the surrounding skin to help you decide on the best treatment method for your needs. Before making a recommendation, she will evaluate:

• Your medical and surgical history
• Current medications
• Skin and tissue quality
• Allergies
• General health and risk factors

Schedule Your New Jersey C-Section Scar Revision Consultation Today

If you want to know how a C-section scar revision may help your scar’s ongoing pain, itching, and appearance, Dr. Szpalski would love to speak with you. Take the first step: Contact us at (646) 777-0170 or complete our online form to schedule your consultation.