Hair loss can start in your 20s and 30s, caused by a combination of genes, hormones, and environmental factors. The most common type is male or female pattern baldness, which is characterized by a receding hairline and gradual thinning at the crown. This can definitely have a negative impact on the self-esteem of the person experiencing the condition. While aging is the most common cause, other factors such as serious illness, stress, and medications can also trigger excessive shedding and balding. If you’ve tried everything and nothing has worked, the only thing left to do is have a hair transplant. The right candidate for a hair transplant is a generally healthy person who has reasonable expectations of the outcome. It’s perfectly normal to be afraid of the procedure.
The same question always rings in the minds of people who decide to have a hair transplant: “Does a hair transplant hurt?” Although this question depends on many variables, it’s safe to say that you shouldn’t feel any pain during the hair transplant after your scalp is numbed with local anesthesia. Most clinics also provide light sedation for extra comfort. This mild sedation means that FUT or FUE hair transplant are a comfortable process for most patients, taking 6-8 hours to complete. Although most patients are very concerned about the potential pain, the answer to the question of whether hair transplants hurt is generally no.
There are many nerves in our scalp, and these nerves need to be numbed so that the patient does not feel any pain while the surgeons perform the hair transplant surgery. Surgeons use many methods to answer the question of whether hair transplant hurt. Techniques surgeons use include:
Using local anesthetic injections
- Administering painkillers
- Administering a light sedative to make the patient feel sleepy, relaxed and comfortable during the procedure
The Relaxing Role of Local Anesthesia
Almost every surgery requires local anesthesia. The answer to the question of whether hair transplant hurt is hidden here. The main technique your surgeon will use to numb your scalp is local anesthesia injections. These are very small injections into the areas where your surgeon will be removing and transplanting hair. The injections are made using a very fine needle. Although the needle is very small, the surgeons go to extra lengths to make sure that you don’t feel any pain. They use a TENS device on your skin to block the receptors in your brain that send all pain signals. This means that any pain from the initial numbing injections is significantly reduced. Once this stage is complete, you shouldn’t feel any pain during the procedure as your entire scalp will be numb.
No surgery is completely painless. However, hair transplant are a very comfortable experience. Thanks to local anesthesia and post-operative painkillers, the answer to the question of whether hair transplant hurt is no.
However, this doesn’t mean there is no discomfort. Hair transplant can cause some pain. Fortunately, the “pain” is only for a short period of time.
Pain Management During Recovery
As with any surgical procedure, pain can be part of your experience. Does hair transplant hurt? Another critical question after the question is about controlling the pain after the procedure.
Discomfort after the procedure cannot be completely eliminated as it is during the procedure, but it can be greatly minimized with the right surgical technique and proper post-operative care instructions. It is important not to ignore both of these elements. Discomfort after the procedure really relates to the area at the back of the head where the grafts are harvested. It should be the surgeon’s effort to ensure that the grafts are harvested in a way that minimizes discomfort. Here are some very important tips during the harvesting of grafts to reduce post-operative discomfort:
First, it is vital to use an adequate amount of tumescent fluid during harvesting. By applying a large amount of fluid under the skin, the surgeon lifts the hair follicles a considerable distance from the underlying nerve and blood supply, so that the wound heals well, the hair is harvested cleanly, and no damage is done to the underlying structures. This single procedure alone can be the determining factor between an uncomfortable and a relatively comfortable post-operative experience. During the harvesting of the graft, the surgeon must be fully aware that all nerve and blood supply is preserved and that no injury occurs.
Second, the width of the incision can also be important. I try to keep my incision widths under 1 centimeter to minimize tension on the wound. This not only helps with better healing, but also makes the back feel less tight after the procedure.
The third is the stitching of the surgical site. Closure of the surgical site is critical. Staple closures are by definition much more uncomfortable for the patient.
Despite the rapid closure time that benefits the surgeon, staple closures cause pain that is not present with suture closures. Also, the stitches should only pass through the middle follicle depth to avoid pinching or compressing the nerves. By doing this, the experience after the procedure should be much better. Using a diluted steroid injection can also be a method to minimize pain. This can really help towards the end of the procedure when combined with a long-acting anesthetic.
In the post-operative period, taking a prescription painkiller the first night of the procedure can greatly reduce the discomfort you feel. Sleeping with your head tilted can minimize the feeling of pressure and can also help with any discomfort that may occur from lying flat on your back. Occasional use of an ice pack for the first 1 to 3 days can also be of significant benefit.
User Experiences of Painless Techniques
Pain and fear of pain while under anesthesia is a major concern for patients during surgical procedures. Hair loss, whether due to disease, trauma or genetics, is a significant challenge for individuals. However, with the advancements in technology, painless and needle-free Hair transplantation offers a viable solution for those looking for an effective treatment. The best procedure for hair loss is hair transplantation, which is highly recommended. Regardless of gender, hair transplantation can be performed on both men and women. Painless hair transplantation is preferred for those who want to grow their hair again. People who want to have the procedure may not be able to muster the courage to have a hair transplant with the question of Does hair transplantation hurt? It is important to thoroughly research the procedure processes to determine whether the hair transplantation procedure is painful.
Most patients considering FUE hair transplantation ask questions about pain perception and the number of injections to be applied. Sapphire hair transplant is performed under local anesthesia, which numbs a certain area with drugs injected under the skin. Thanks to this technique, the patient does not feel any pain during the hair transplant. However, patients with needle phobia or pain phobia may begin to feel discomfort at this point. The aspect of the procedure that worries patients the most is local anesthesia.
Real Stories with Patient Comments
Most patients describe hair transplant as very simple and even slightly enjoyable. Many patients report almost no pain. Local anesthesia has been used in various ways in recent years to reduce patients’ fear and anxiety. Patients who have used these techniques report that they do not experience pain. Local anesthesia for hair transplant procedures lasts about 15 minutes and patients do not feel any pain afterwards. For FUE hair transplant, the patient is given local anesthesia twice. The first is applied to the neck area before the extraction phase and the second is applied to the forehead area before the channels are opened. One of the local anesthesia techniques that helps patients feel less anxious is needle-free anesthesia, which is used in many developed countries around the world. It reduces patient anxiety during FUE hair transplant and speeds up the doctors’ workflow.
Fortunately, patients usually report that they feel no discomfort after the surgery. Once the procedure is complete, the doctor reapplies the anesthesia. This means that the patient will experience approximately three hours of numbness before it wears off. The patient now has three hours to return to their accommodation, unpack their belongings and, most importantly, start taking their post-operative painkillers. If the patient follows the instructions for taking oral medication and takes some painkillers before the numbness wears off, the surgery will be painless. Most patients who follow these instructions will go to bed without pain after taking the prescribed additional dose of painkillers the night of surgery. The next morning, they will be almost pain-free. In fact, most patients claim to have no pain the day after surgery and no need for any medication. Patients who are having hair transplant should have their remaining painkillers with them or they can take Tylenol (acetaminophen) if they experience any minor discomfort. However, most patients do not even need this and it is only for minor discomfort.