Nerve damage and repair after lipoma removal from the forehead. Is it permanent?

It is not uncommon to have some numbness above the area of incision on your forehead after a lipoma removal.  In most cases, this issue will resolve over time but it can take weeks to months.  Given that your surgery was two days ago, there most likely will still be improvement over more time.  There is nothing to do except just be patient and wait.  

It's been my experience that patients are frequently numb above their forehead incision after lipoma removal. This typically returns over the next several weeks to months. Make your operating surgeon aware of your numbness so they can further discuss it with you and the likelihood of return.

If you're only two days post procedure I would recommend giving this more time. Usually, numbness results from stretching the nerve as opposed to cutting the nerve. This will recover in time. Also the fact that pressing below your brow gives you a sensation in the scalp suggests that the nerve is still intact. Most likely this will improve but followup with your surgeon to be sure. I hope this information is helpful for you.Stephen Weber MD, FACSDenver Facial Plastic Surgeon

Thanks for your question. This is a question that we
get asked often by our patients. This side effect from surgery should have been discussed with you and most cases is temporary but can take up to 1 year to resolve. If it is persistent or you are worried, set up a follow up
appointment with your dermatologist.

Only your surgeon can tell if the nerve was damaged. However almost all lipomas of the forehead are below the frontalis muscle where the nerves reside. Working around these nerves and stretching can cause the nerve to stop working for some time. Since these nerves branch to many branches the sensation comes back in most of the time. It nay take up to one year to come back. Follow up with your surgeon and follow his recommendations

In general, it depends on which nerves are impacted.  Diminished sensation, including numbness, is common after this (and many other) procedures, and should resolve on its own.  Particularly since it's only been two days, it sounds like a fairly common consequence of the surgery.  You should of course contact your own PS to let him or her know what it going on.Rarely, a motor nerve can be damaged. If there are portions of the forehead muscles that do not move, particularly as time goes on, the concern for permanence rises correspondingly.  It seems, however, that that is not the case for you.I hope that this helps and good luck,Dr. Alan EnglerMember of #RealSelf100@RealSelf