Is a Hair Transplant Done Under Anesthesia?

Is a Hair Transplant Done Under Anesthesia?

If you are to get a hair transplant soon you may want to know if you feel pain during the surgery or if there will be anesthesia or something else that will make you relieved. So, here is your answer.

A hair transplant should take between four and eight hours. If you are getting a substantial amount of hair transplanted, you may need to return the following day for a few hours. During these hours, you will remain awake throughout the procedure and require only a local anesthetic to numb the scalp. To help them relax, some patients also take a light sedative.

So, hair transplant surgery, regardless of technique, is normally performed with local anesthetic and sedation to keep you relaxed and comfortable during the surgery. Your scalp will be pain-insensitive, nevertheless, you may feel some tugging or pressure. For more difficult situations involving tissue growth or flaps, general anesthesia may be employed which means you will sleep through the procedure if general anesthetic is utilized.

Nevertheless, you should first learn whether if you have some issues related the anesthetic sensitivity such as;

  • Being unwell or feeling sick
  • Dizziness and faintness
  • Shivering or feeling cold
  • Headaches
  • Itching
  • Bruising and discomfort
  • Having difficulties peeing
  • Aches and pains are a common occurrence

If you have one, you should inform your doctor, and write it down when it is asked to you in the course of the first consultation. 

On the other hand, to achieve the best outcomes from a hair transplant, your surgeon or dermatologist may advise you to take hair loss medication because it will be beneficial for you.

To sum up, yes, hair transplantation is a basic surgical procedure that only requires a local anaesthetic but in some conditions your surgeon may prefer general anesthesia. And, the administration of the local anaesthetic causes considerable discomfort at first, although this lasts only a few minutes.

Are you awake during hair transplant surgery?

The answer is, it depends on the medication given to you. If your surgeon uses general anesthetic, you will be asleep for the duration of the hair transplant procedure. Local anesthesia, on the contrary, will only freeze the donor and transplanting areas while keeping you conscious. You can watch movies or read books while waiting for the surgeon to complete the procedure if you pick local anesthetic. Your surgeon will decide which sort of anesthetic is best for you. You will not experience any pain or suffering throughout the hair transplant process, irrespective of the kind of anesthesia used.

Is hair transplant anesthesia painful?

No, because of the local anesthetic and post-operative pain medication, a hair transplant is not painful. While no surgery is absolutely painless, and some brief and potentially temporary discomfort is to be expected, most hair loss patients think that a hair transplant is a pleasant and straightforward procedure.

Nonetheless, there may be some pain right after surgery; in these cases, your doctor may offer you any drugs that will minimize the soreness and stiffness of your scalp. You may also be given drugs and ointments to protect yourself from the infection.

All you need to do is select the right surgeon.

References:

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/hair-transplantation-and-restoration/preparation#:~:text=Hair%20transplant%20surgery%2C%20no%20matter,of%20some%20tugging%20or%20pressure.

https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/treatment/transplant#:~:text=Most%20patients%20remain%20awake%20during,between%204%20and%208%20hours.