Facelift: Stories

I had an open browlift and facelift the end of May 2010. I am a 54 yr old healthy woman.

Reason: Eyelid skin sagged and jawline wasn't sharp anymore. Surgeon recommended open browlift instead of having eyelid surgery and necklift to correct jawline. I looked and felt great up to 2 weeks after the surgery then all hell broke loose!!

Problem 1: Hair loss...
At my 2 week mark, my hair started falling out along the suture line. At 3 weeks, I had a bald strip that was 2 inches wide that went at least 7 inches across. (Pic below)

Hair Restoration Dr. who has done 15,000 transplants said he's never seen anything close to this severe. Two other plastic surgeons (for 2nd opinions) haven't seen anything this bad either. The hair on the bald strip has started growing back a bit, but my normal thick long hair is down to 1/2 it's thickness and I'm scared it's not going to grow back. Hair seems lifeless and dull. I am taking vitamin supplements for hair growth.

 Has this happened to anyone else?
Will the hair typically grow back if there's been shockloss or nerve damage to the scalp?

 Problem 2: Pain...(both sides of my face)
a) Severe eye aches (feels like that ache when you have a high fever) Gets worse as the day progresses. At night I can barely keep my eyes open
b) Pain all around my ears. Can't even touch this area it's so sensitive. Sometimes feels like someone has punched me hard in my ears. c) Slight burning of my jawline from earlobe to earlobe which goes back to the underneath of my neck.

Neurologist said sounds like damage or irritation of the Trigeminal Nerve.

I am taking Vicodin everyday for the pain. Although the pain never completely goes away even on medication, I seem to tolerate this one the best. I have also tried Gabapentin; Darvocet and Naproxen. Some of the other medications make me too drowsy to work at my job. (Luckily I can work from home)

I want this pain to go away. My life has gone into a black hole because of this elected surgery, which didn't even work. My brows and eyes look the same as before surgery, and I have an uneven swelling under my chin...not a tight jawline like I was going for. My "reputable" Dr. is no help. Says he's not responsible and he's not a pain management Dr.

So...I try to look for answers myself.

 Does this type of nerve pain go away over time? (It's not the sharp kind of pain associated with TN)
Does anyone have any suggestions or comments to give me a bit of hope?