If you’ve been losing hair or your hair has been getting thinner, you’ve probably thought about hair transplant surgery. When people think about their scalp, they might wonder if this kind of procedure hurts, especially since the scalp is such a delicate part of the body. In this article, we’ll talk about the details of hair transplant surgery and whether or not you’ll feel any pain from it.
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How Painful is Hair Transplant Surgery?
Pain felt during hair transplant surgery
No pain at all is usually felt during the hair transplant surgery itself, thanks to the use of local anesthesia. In order to numb your scalp for the procedure, your surgeon will usually inject lidocaine 2-3 times into your scalp. These initial injections may sting and cause discomfort for the few minutes it takes for the anesthetic (numbing) effect to kick in.
Pain felt after hair transplant surgery
Most hair transplant surgery patients report feeling pain and discomfort for 1-2 days after the surgery. This pain is relatively mild for most people, though there is always the possibility that you will have a different pain tolerance level. The scalp tends to be most tender for one to two days after the surgery.
To reduce the amount of pain felt after hair transplant surgery, pain medication is usually prescribed. Over-the-counter pain medications are also usually advised, if the patient feels the pain is limited and manageable. Most doctors who do cosmetic surgery work are aware of the possibility of prescription pain medication becoming habit-forming, and will suggest strong pain medication only when it is truly needed.
If you feel a sudden increase in pain after the surgery, or experience sharp pain, contact your surgeon immediately. Obvious changes in the pain you feel may indicate a problem that needs to be addressed rapidly.
The longest you should expect to be feeling pain after hair transplant surgery is between 48 and 72 hours.
Does Getting A Hair Transplant Hurt?
One of the most common questions to ask about a hair transplant is if the procedure hurts. You shouldn’t experience any discomfort at all during your hair transplant after your scalp has been treated with local anesthesia. Therefore, the majority of patients find a hair transplant to be a pleasant process.
Most medical experts will make every effort to keep patients as comfortable as possible, despite the fact that the majority of patients are quite concerned about potential discomfort. Having said that, each and every hair transplant procedure comes with its own unique level of pain and discomfort.
What Are The Hair Transplant Surgery Options?
The FUE and FUT are the two primary hair transplant procedures available on the market. In FUT hair transplants, the healthy hair follicles are separated into individual hair grafts and then taken in tiny strips from the donor region and placed into the bald spot. Individual hair follicles are extracted during a FUE transplant and then implanted into the afflicted region.
Because FUT requires more surgery and causes more discomfort than FUE, the rehabilitation and healing process will probably take longer. Additionally, there are minor scars present. The FUE technique provides a quicker recovery period of 3–7 days and leaves little to no scars.
FUT is often seen as being somewhat more painful than FUE overall because of the differences in the method and recovery durations. However, since local anesthesia is used throughout both surgeries, they are both comparatively painless.
How Much Pain Can You Expect During A Hair Transplant?
There is no getting around the fact that a hair transplant is a medical process, therefore some pain is to be expected.
Any treatment you undergo will be preceded by local anesthesia, which will be given by your surgeon. In order to lessen the patient’s discomfort, this numbs the region. Although some patients report some discomfort from the injection, the process itself is painless, since the treatment area is numb.
The procedure has been described as unpleasant by some people but mostly comfortable. Since patients are awake throughout surgery, they are fully aware of everything that is going on. During the procedure, they may feel some pulling or tugging on the scalp which may be uncomfortable for some– in some cases this is the extent of the pain felt during the treatment.
What Are Some Normal Symptoms After A Hair Transplant Surgery?
Even though the treatment shouldn’t hurt, the scalp may feel sensitive and uncomfortable when the anesthetic wears off. The stress to the scalp tissue may inevitably result in some swelling and redness after a hair transplant in the first few days.
Patients who have pain or discomfort after surgery might use modest medications to assist. This contains doxycycline to prevent infection, prednisolone to decrease swelling, and paracetamol for pain treatment. The discomfort usually goes away in a few days with the help of these medications.
After that, everything is relatively straightforward. After a few months, your new hair should start to grow in and your scalp should no longer itch.
What Are The Risks After A Hair Transplant?
Although it happens extremely rarely, some hair transplant patients do have difficulties following their procedure. Infected grafts or damage to the transplanted region may be the cause of this. Speak to your hair transplant expert if your grafts are still painful and uncomfortable after two weeks or if you are concerned that the grafts aren’t healing properly. They’ll be able to monitor your development and recommend more treatments as necessary.
Are Hair Transplant Surgeries Worth It?
There is no need to look for alternatives to hair transplants if you are concerned about discomfort since the pain associated with hair transplants is often modest and brief. The operations and recuperation periods are often brief as well, allowing you to resume your normal activities with little pain. The majority of patients feel that this is a reasonable price to pay in order to regain their hair and their confidence.
There will be some discomfort, just as with any cosmetic procedure. A hair transplant may cause some little pain, but if you have a full, healthy head of hair, it will be well worth it.
