Hair Transplants and Numbness

Thinning hair and hair loss are common concerns for men and women. A receding hair line may be a natural part of the aging process, but there are treatment options.

At True & Dorin Medical Group, our experienced doctors offer a wide range of hair restoration treatments to restore a fuller, thicker head of hair. One of the most popular and effective treatment is hair transplant surgery.

As with any other surgical procedure, there is a risk of complications after hair transplant surgery. Although rare, one potential complication is nerve damage, which could result in numbness.

Numbness is also a common side effect during the early stages of hair transplant recovery, so patients should not panic if they do not have full feeling in their scalp immediately after treatment.

Here patients can learn more about hair transplants and numbness following treatment at our New York, NY practice, and how to tell if numbness is a cause for concern.

How Common Is Numbness after Hair Transplant Surgery?

Numbness after hair loss surgery is extremely common. In nearly all cases, numbness of the scalp is simply a temporary side effect of treatment.

Numbness may occur at the site of the transplant, at the donor site, or both. There are also varying degrees of numbness that a patient may experience.

Some patients may not have any sensation at the treatment site, while others will feel tingling, burning, or itchiness. Tingling, burning, and itching can be irritating, but they are actually good signs that the nerves will heal.

As you heal from surgery, feeling should return to the scalp, and any uncomfortable sensations should subside.

How Long Should Numbness Last?

As long as patients follow post-surgical instructions and care for their scalp as directed, surgical side effects should resolve fairly quickly.

Many patients report that numbness is gone within a few weeks after surgery. If numbness lasts longer than this, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the nerves have been damaged.

The recovery process is unique for each patient, and patients heal at different rates. It can take up to six months for all sensation to return to the scalp after hair transplant surgery.

Should I Be Concerned?

It is important for patients to consider all the potential risks of hair transplant surgery before committing to treatment. No surgeon can guarantee that a patient will not develop permanent numbness after hair transplant surgery.

However, that risk is minimal. The skill and expertise of Drs. True and Dorin, along with advanced hair transplant surgery techniques, make it highly unlikely that a patient will develop permanent numbness after hair transplant surgery.

Most patients believe that the minimal risk of surgical complications are outweighed by the benefits of treatment.

Learn More

If you are considering hair transplant surgery, you should contact our practice at your earliest convenience to learn more. Dr. Robert True and Dr. Robert Dorin would be happy to answer any questions you may have, including whether or not you are an ideal candidate for hair transplant surgery. Call (212) 826-2525 to get your hair restoration journey started.