The nerves are responsible for our physical sensations. You may feel it now if you touch any portion of your skin. This is due to the presence of nerve endings in your fingertips as well as nerves throughout your body, including your scalp.
These small little nerves travel pretty close to the skin’s surface, which is why they can be damaged during any type of surgery, not only hair restoration surgery. If you inadvertently cut yourself quite deeply, you risk nerve injury. The same can be stated for any type of hair transplant. Although all highly trained, reputable, and qualified hair surgeons will do everything possible to avoid causing nerve injury, there is still a danger. It is considered a minor injury if nerves are injured during a hair restoration process.
On the other hand, nerve injury, medically known as paraesthesia, causes skin numbness and, in some cases, a burning or prickling sensation where the nerves have been destroyed as they begin to repair themselves.
Given what a hair transplant entails, whether FUE or FUT, it is logical that you would be concerned about nerve damage. However, we want to reassure you that long-term nerve injury is extremely rare. Yet, temporary numbness may be still a side effect of the operation.
Therefore, it can be said that it is a typical issue to have some numbness in the days following a hair transplant. This is due to the fact that you had a local anaesthetic given to your scalp, as well as the nature of the surgery. Your scalp has been subjected to a great deal of damage, for good purpose, of course, and it requires some time to heal. Therefore, nerve damage can occur in the donor area at the rear of your head as well as the recipient area at the front, top, and sides of your scalp.
Furthermore, after the older FUT strip harvest hair transplant process, any type of nerve injury, whether short or long lasting, is more frequent in the donor area at the rear of the head. This is because the piece of tissue removed is significantly larger than with the newer FUE process, putting the scalp at greater risk of nerve damage. Even if you went to a facility that still used the outdated FUT method of hair restoration, whatever nerve damage that did occur should heal within six months or so if done properly. The same is true for any nerve damage caused by the more contemporary FUE type of hair transplantation surgery.
To sum up, short-term numbness and nerve damage are common and should not be confused with permanent nerve injury. Even though it may take two to six months for typical scalp feelings to restore. When it does start to return, you will notice the typical indicators of healing, such as itching, tingling, and prickling – remember how you felt when you had scabs on your knees as a youngster, and how they felt as they healed? In addition, the advice is still the same – if you do not want lasting scars, avoid the impulse to scratch and pick at your scalp! You may even feel mild electric shocks, but these are uncommon and are part of the natural process when nerves begin to repair themselves. If the scalp is still numb after six months, make an appointment with your surgeon. This is especially critical if you are also experiencing scalp pain, bleeding, or significant crusting. Nerve injury resulting in persistent numbness on particular parts of the scalp can occur in extremely rare circumstances. If this happens to you, your surgeon will be able to guide you through your specific situation.
Will Hair Transplant Affect the Brain?
No, there is no link between brain damage or any other side effects and hair transplantation. Because the incision is so small, there will be no effect on your brain after surgery. As a result, we can confidently state that hair transplants have nothing to do with your brain. It should also be noted that while this operation is completely safe and uncomplicated, it does necessitate the presence of a skilled medical and doctor environment. However, nerve injury can occur on the scalp, the surface region; do not think about it. Do your own research and wipe out any kind of hesitation!
What are the complications associated with a hair transplant?
Like any surgical procedure, a hair transplant comes with potential risks and complications. While most patients experience minimal side effects, some individuals may experience complications such as bleeding, infection, scarring, or nerve damage.
Other possible complications include swelling, itching, or pain in the scalp, as well as graft failure or unnatural-looking results. In rare cases, individuals may experience shock loss, which occurs when the transplanted hair falls out before new hair growth occurs.
To minimize the risk of complications, it is important to choose a qualified and experienced surgeon and to carefully follow all post-operative instructions. Patients should also be aware of the potential risks and benefits of the procedure and discuss any concerns with their healthcare provider.
Reference:
https://www.azhairrestoration.com/hair-transplant-surgery-permanent-nerve-damage
