Hair Pain After Hair Transplant

Dear Dr Rassman,

I am interested in you doing a FUE. I have one strip excision before and unfortunately was left with a rare but very unpleasant side effect, namely neuropathy, or “hair pain”. for instance, for more than a year it was painful when I ran my hand through my hair (not just the transplanted hair) or when my hair blew in the wind. I eventually was treated with Neurontin/Gabapentin and Amitriptiline to kind of calm the butchered nerves down. (I have since stopped and things seem ok). Obviously this was as a result of the strip excision. I didnt mind the scalp numbness much, and that was expected anyway, but the hair pain was not something I want to experience again. I was told though that it probably wouldnt happen a second time. I dont necessarily want to risk it. Which is why I am considering FUE, so as to avoid the strip excision. Am I right in assuming no nerve damage ? However I was told that FUE involves a tremendoues increase in the total length of incisions when compared to conventional strip harvesting ?? In terms of the cosmetic results in the donor area I was pretty happy from the first operation, although some of the hair seemed more fuzzy for some reason. This operation was performed 3 years ago and I think it was like 500 grafts. Oh, and also started with dandruff for the first time in my life a few months after the surgery. I dont know if it was a result of the nerve damage or maybe because of taking the medication, but its too coincidental to not be related in any way. (I have been off the medication for about 2 years now but the dandruff has not gone away. but its very much under control provided I use an anti-dandruff shampoo).

Hair pain is rather unusual and I don’t believe that I have ever seen it. Damage to small cutaneous nerves are possible whenever the back of the head is cut into, even with FUE. If the hair pain is all over your scalp and not just on one side, then I am stumped.

It would be best for me to speak with you, better still to meet you. At the least, a phone conversation with good pictures emailed beforehand to go by would be helpful. You can call my office at 800-NEW-HAIR to setup a time for us to speak, or email me at the address on the Contact page (please reference this blog post either way).