Will Numbness Go Away After a Cut to the Forehead?

Question

I recently cut my forehead down to the bone (shape of a backwards C approx. 3"). I have had my stitches removed a few days ago. Cut is healing well, but I have noticed alittle numbness at cut site. Also, I have noticed that I can't move the eyebrow all the way up on the side of the cut. Is this normal?

Christopher J. Davidson, MD, FACS · Answer

No!  The sensation normally comes back within the first year. That being said, patience is a virtue...  Although I am the least patient person out there - easy for me to say...Best of luck!

Ali Riza Öreroglu, MD · Answer

It is normal to have some numbness at the site of trauma (cut) that will eventually heal and the numbness go away. However, if the cut involved a cut in any sensory nerve, the numbness will be permanent unless the nerve is repaired.
Edema of the trauma site can cause some change in forehead muscle dynamics, however if you cannot move the brow at all, you may have transected the frontalis nerve!! Exploration and repair of the nerve would be mandatory to minimize any permanent paralysis of the frontal muscles of the forehead.
Hope this helps,
Ali Rıza Öreroğlu, MD FEBOPRASEuropean and Turkish Board Certified Aesthetic, Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeonIstanbul, Turkey

Richard J. Bruneteau, MD · Answer

Facial
lacerations are extremely common and may be associated with injuries to the
underlying muscles and nerves. For this reason, it’s not unusual for patients
to note numbness and muscle weakness. This may occur for a variety of reasons
including direct damage to the muscle, transection of the nerves or bruising of
the nerves. In addition, these injuries can cause significant swelling which
can also adversely impact muscle and nerve function.In the vast majority of cases,
muscle weakness and numbness resolve in 3 to 4 months following injury. In some
cases resolutions may take up to a year. In rare cases these changes may be
permanent, but this would be unusual. If you’re concerned about numbness
following this type of injury, consultation with a board certified plastic
surgeon is appropriate. This surgeon should be able to address your concerns
and alleviate your anxiety.

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

It is common for numbness to occur after surgery. It can take a few weeks for numbness to go away, but sometimes it may take up to a year. Nerve regeneration will slowly occur over this time, allowing you to have sensation again, and this is associated with tingling.

Lewis Albert Andres, MD · Answer

Hello!  Thank you for your question!  Numbness after any surgical 
procedure is expected for several weeks to months following.  As the 
nerves to the area are traumatized and will then experience a temporary 
neuropraxia, a transient loss of nerve conduction.  This usually 
resolves over the next 6-12 weeks, but depending on the procedure 
performed, sometimes much longer.  Typically this should resolve by 1 
year.  As it goes past this date, the likelihood of the sensation 
returning is small.  However, it can take up to 2 years.  If no return 
from there, it is unlikely to return.  It should be discussed that 
persistent sensory changes may develop following any surgical 
procedure.  The usual signs of the nerves regenerating and neuropraxia
 resolving is itching, followed by a burning sensation and then 
occasional sharp, shock-like pains.  These will be normal to experience,
 and actually a promising sign.  Usually, normal sensation returns, but 
is is also possible to have decreased sensation or even increased 
sensation to the areas affected.  Re-educating nerves postoperatively is
 often helpful and will allow proper instruction for the affected 
sensory nerves - methods include using different textures to the 
affected areas when showering, bathing, applying lotion, etc.  If 
bothersome, there are some medications that may be helpful, including 
Neurontin for pain for hypersensitivity.  You can try various textures 
such as washcloths, loofahs, cotton sheets, etc.  Massaging the areas is
 also beneficial for the incision to make the finest scar possible.  The
 last place to regain the sensation will be directly adjacent to the 
incision/scar as the nerves will make its way from the periphery to this
 location.  If continual pain arises, evaluation is warranted.  After 
ruling out other causes, one rare explanation may be that a neuroma has 
developed and may require surgical excision.  This is very unlikely 
unless a large sensory nerve has been transected inadvertently during 
the procedure.  Hope that this helps!  Best wishes!

Scott K. Thompson, MD · Answer

Losing sensation and movement can be frustrating, and there may be some permanent nerve damage if your cut extended down to the bone. However, depending on the exact location of the cut and if you have some movement of the forehead on the side of the cut, my guess is that the damage is primarily to the muscle and that your forehead movement will return completely. As for the numbness, it is likely that some sensory nerve branches were severed with the injury. Although this can cause prolonged or even permanent numbness around the area of the injury, sensation will often return over a period of several months or years. Good luck!

Sachin S. Parikh, MD · Answer

Sorry to hear about your cut to the forehead.

	It can take up to 1 year for normal sensation to return to the forehead after a laceration. The reason being is it can take this long for the sensory nerves to find their way back to the skin. Most of the time, this numbness does subside for most patients. The eyebrow not moving can be related to generalized swelling since your cut was so recent.  However, if there is an obvious weakness of your eyebrow it could be due to damage to the the branch of the facial nerve that provides sensation to your frontalis m. I would seek the opinion of a board-certified surgeon if the weakness persists after the swelling resolves.

	Best of luck

	Sachin Parikh, MD

Sam Naficy, MD, FACS · Answer

Numbness can take up to 12 - 18 months to go away.  Swelling in the initial few weeks can affect normal movement as well

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

The numbness on the forehead and the lack of motion is concerning. The numbness may recover as well as the motion if the nerve was stretched. However, with a sharp injury, the nerve for the control of motion may have been severed. I would have a plastic surgeon examine you, if this has not been done.

Jeffrey Cone, MD · Answer

Sorry to hear about your injury, and I hope your recovery continues to progress well.  Numbness and weakness are common after any laceration. That said, the specific location and orientation of your laceration is key, as delicate anatomy (such as the frontal branch of the facial nerve, which controls forehead movement, and sensory branches of the trigeminal nerve) could have been injured.  An evaluation by a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon (particularly one who performs post-traumatic reconstruction) would help you target the problem and optimize your recovery.  Best of luck to you.

Will Numbness Go Away After a Cut to the Forehead?

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