Factors Influencing Postoperative Hyperesthesia in Hair Restoration Surgery

In a study conducted from 1999 to 2009 involving 552 patients undergoing hair restoration surgery (HRS), it was found that 19 patients (3.4%) reported postoperative hyperesthesia (increased sensitivity) in either the donor or recipient area of their scalp. The study identified that patients who had all their HRS sessions performed within the same surgical practice did not experience postoperative hyperesthesia. However, 14% of patients who underwent prior HRS by a physician outside of the investigated surgical group developed this complication. Other factors such as the amount of intraoperative electrocautery to maintain hemostasis, degree of tension upon donor wound closure, and extent of donor wound edge undermining influenced the frequency of this sequela to a lesser degree. The study concluded that physicians planning repair sessions on patients who have undergone prior HRS by a physician at a different surgical center should warn of increased incidences of postoperative hyperesthesia in their preoperative consultation.