FUT surgery recovery time: Is pain and numbness normal 14 days after procedure?

Question

Two weeks ago had FUT with 1508 grafts. Unfortunately, I live 300 miles from where I had the surgery and follow up is difficult. I removed the stitches on the 10th day but the scar is still very tender and the surrounding hair/skin is painful. The pain is similar to the feeling you would have after wearing a beanie or a hat all day where the follicles hurt. This pain is occurring all over the back of my head. I have contacted the doctor and was told pain will get better. Is this normal?

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

It is best to contact your doctor about post operative care and instructions since each doctor has a different regimen.  Numbness may be normal.

David Deutsch, MD · Answer

By this point most of the acute pain should have resolved but everyone perceives pain differently.The only factor that might change things is if there is an infection(unusual in the donor area). The numbness that occurs from nerves being cut usually diminishes by 3 months but can last up to one year.

Ilhan Serdaroglu, MD · Answer

yes  it is normal and you may experience numbness for months, up to 10-12 months. . ıf your nerve complex damaged, cut during the strip excision operation , all scalp may stay numb forever.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

At two weeks most of the pain from a strip surgery should be gone. Some people have some residual numbness that will go away in up to a month

FUT surgery recovery time: Is pain and numbness normal 14 days after procedure?

Answers (4)

More Hair Transplant Questions

FUT surgery recovery time: Is pain and numbness normal 14 days after procedure?

Answers (4)

More Hair Transplant Questions

Am I on Norwood 2? Should I get a hair transplant or wait? 25 years old (Photo)

Is it true that in the second hair transplant, the growth after the procedure is much slower? 7 years p.o. (photos)

When will the redness in my donor area disappear and will my hair grow again? (Photos)