I have tension feeling of the scalp after FUT hair transplant. Will this discomfort accompany me for the rest of my life?

Question

I have just done a FUT hair transplant, the surgery seems to be successful. The doctor told me he took a 7.5 cm by 1.4 cm scalp. Now almost two weeks have passed, the only thing that is worrying me is that I still feel a little bit tension on my scalp, especially when I turn around my neck (such as when driving a car and try to clear the blind spot) or nod deeply, i felt the tension force from the scar and scalp around the scar. Will this discomfort accompany me for the rest of my life? Thanks.

Jae Pak, MD · Answer

In general scalp tension is OK.  Your doctor took out a sizable amount of your scalp.  Of course your scalp will feel tense.  You may feel this for several months.  This can be normal.  Please follow up with your doctor for an exam.

Scott K. Thompson, MD · Answer

An initial feeling of tension and tightness in the region of the donor site is virtually universal following FUT hair transplant.  Fortunately, this will resolve relatively quickly to the point that you don't even notice it within a couple of months.  Good luck.

Satinder Singh, MBBS, DNB · Answer

In FUT as a strip of skin is taken out and the resultant wound is primary closed one can experience the feeling of tightness, stretch around the donor scar or the tension on the scalp particularly around the area from where donor strip is taken out. This may take some time to wear off. The feeling of numbness which results when the cutaneous and sub-cutaneous nerves get cut when the strip is taken out also adds to some discomfort.

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

It takes many months for a wound and the accompanying scar to properly mature and heal (technically even up to 1 year). What you are describing is very normal .... although not all patients have such discomfort at the 2 week time point. Wound healing is a lengthy process.It's important to mention all things you're feeling to your surgeon so he or she can review. Things should feel much better at the end of month 1 and improve over time.  As the laxity in the scalp returns the tension feeling should fade.It's very, very rare for patients to have long term issues (i.e. accompany them for the rest of their lives).

Andrew Kaufman, MD · Answer

It is normal to feel tension after a hair transplant where a strip is removed from the back of the head. Generally, this is the area that patients complain about most. They don't complain about pain in the recipient site (i.e. front of the scalp). They generally complain of pain or tightness on the back of the scalp. With time the tension and any discomfort will improve. This may be a benefit for some of the Follicular Unit Extraction procedures (e.g. NeoGraft). In FUE the individual follicular units are removed. There is no strip and no suturing. The choice of procedure is dependent upon patient characteristics and surgeon preference. If you have any concern about the tightness or pain, see the doctor who performed the procedure and let him examine the site. Good luck.

Gerald Searle, DO · Answer

1.4 cm is a modest excision for an FUT.  As with all surgeries, whether it is on the abdomen, the foot, or the posterior scalp, it takes time to heal.  Even simple surgeries on the arm or leg can create the feeling of persistent skin tension.  The best advice is to be careful for a few more weeks and if the sensation of tightness persists, seek re-evaluation with your hair restoration surgeon to ensure that there are not any other issues.

Greg Williams, FRCS (Plast) · Answer

The degree of tension following a strip FUT procedure depends on a number of factors but primarily the pre-surgery laxity of your scalp and the width of the excised strip. 1.4cm in a very loose scalp might produce very little tension whereas in a particularly tight scalp it might cause difficulty closing the wound. Surgical technique and wound closure method will also have an impact ie whether surface dissolving or non-dissolving sutures/staples where used and whether a subcutaneous (under the surface) stitch was used as well. If you are concerned, you should visit your doctor to make sure all is healing according to plan.

Michael Meshkin, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

it is normal to feel a little tension after the procedure, however as the skin losens up the tension goes away. So it is temporary and you will feel less tension with time.

William Rassman, MD (retired) · Answer

There is always a feeling of tension after a strip surgery for two reasons: (1) the scalp skin volume was reduced by the surgery and you can feel this. Considering the size of the excised strip, this was not an aggressive excision and this feeling will disappear in a few months as the scalp regenerates skin and reduces the density from the hairs that were taken out,. and (2) after any surgery swelling occurs during the recovery process and this causes tension. This feeling of tension reduces daily or weekly and usually in a month of less, this feeling should be gone. I have had three strip surgeries so I can tell you that the tense feelings were gone in a month by the tightness that I felt in my scalp took a few months to go away

I have tension feeling of the scalp after FUT hair transplant. Will this discomfort accompany me for the rest of my life?

Answers (9)

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