I have dramatic hair loss/nerve damage a year after hairline lowering. Why is this happening, and what should I do? (Photo)

Question

I had a hairline lowering a year ago, and nerves in the front part of my scalp still has not fully returned. The past 4 weeks, I've been losing a lot more hair on the front and right temple. The hair density is noticeably less, and I've been noticing a lot more hair loss when I shower. I've also been starting to work out a lot more, and I've been massaging my scalp to help blood flow. I'm not sure this is male pattern baldness as no one in my family has experienced balding at my age.

Marco Barusco, MD · Answer

In males - particularly young ones - I don't normally recommend the hairline lowering procedure, simply because of the risk of future male pattern hair loss. Conservative hair transplants are usually better in men. You may experience male pattern hair loss even without a family history of it. Talk to your doctor about a genetic test that you can do to see if you have a high or low probability of male pattern hair loss. It is simple and non-invasive. Although it does not guarantee that you are or are not going to lose hair, it provides information as to the chances, and it can help you better prepare. As to the nerve damage, it is a common occurrence after the forehead lowering procedure, because they are cut during the surgery. Many times the sensation will come back after a few months, but some patients experience permanent numbness in some areas.

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

The risk of forehead reduction in men is genetic male pattern hair loss.  Numbness after surgery can be normal and can persist for months after surgery.  You need to follow up with your doctor for a recheck.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

Nerve damage occurs in virtually all people who have hairline lowering surgical procedures as small nerve endings that come up from the face and forehead, innovate this area. Usually, these nerve endings repair or reroute over time. That is the normal course, but it is possible that this repair of the nerves or rerouting may not occur. There is little to do about it.In men who have hairline lowering surgeries, the risk of male pattern balding is always there regardless of the family history you have. This is the reason I don't recommend a surgical hairline lowering procedure in young men, but rather a hair transplant lowering procedure which can be just as good, but if balding or thinning should occur after the procedure as a result of genetic balding, more transplants can follow it back easily. Even in your situation, a hair transplant may become your next step. See our gallery below on over 1000 men who had this done one way or the other

I have dramatic hair loss/nerve damage a year after hairline lowering. Why is this happening, and what should I do? (Photo)

Answers (3)

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