Hmm, PaintFX could prove to be useful on this one. (I don´t know well how to use it though, I´m still learning)

Perhaps you could do this:

• Make the surface Live
• Create a curve on surface using the CV curve tool
• Now you have a curve on surface which you could use to control, either flow of particles, or perhaps a paintFX brush, This is something I don´t know very well. However check for a link in PaintFX hair creating in this thread. It migh give you some pointers on how to run that brush through those curves.

Hope it helps!