Question:

Is numbness in the back/donor area permanent?

Answer:

The loss of feeling associated with the strip technique of donor hair harvesting should be temporary. The nerves in the back generally carry sensation vertically in an upward fashion. When the incision is made these nerves are severed, which causes a numb-type feeling directly above the incision line. The sensation in this region almost always returns to normal, but the length of time varies from person to person (usually anywhere from 2-3 weeks to a year). As the nerves gradually reconnect with one another, it is common for the patient to have a slight “pins-and-needles” feeling in a patchy distribution. Some things that could cause numbness to persist a bit longer are a history of prior scarring, keloids, and diabetes.-

Brandon Ross, MD
http://www.rmhri.com
IAHRS Recommended Hair Transplant Surgeon