Are Hair Transplants Painful?
Many patients worry about experiencing pain during a hair transplant. This anxiety may cause you to delay hair transplant surgery. We know that hair loss can be a harrowing experience. Luckily, the solution doesn’t have to be distressing.
If you are holding off on getting a hair transplant out of fear of the pain, you’ll be delighted to hear that the procedure is relatively pain-free.
If you’re wondering, ‘Is a hair transplant painful?’, read further to learn more about pain management, recovery and surgical processes involved in a hair transplant procedure.
Schedule an online consultation for a comprehensive assessment, or contact our hair transplant clinic in Glasgow today.
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Is Hair Transplantation Painful?
A common question that arises is, ‘How painful is hair transplant surgery?’. You’ll be happy to hear hair transplant patients experience minimal discomfort during the procedure.
Most hair transplant surgeries make use of local anaesthesia during the procedure, allowing you to stay awake. While all surgical procedures involve some discomfort, hair transplant pain is relatively minimal.
An experienced surgeon will ensure you feel comfortable. So, if you feel pain more intensely than others, you can speak to your surgeon to find a solution that works best for you.
How Painful Is a Hair Transplant Recovery Period?
While hair transplantation procedures involve very little pain during the operation itself, most patients will experience slight discomfort or pain after the hair transplant. Don’t panic if you start to feel pain after the initial local anaesthetic injections wear off.
During a hair transplant procedure, patients typically experience minimal pain, primarily associated with specific stages.
Initially, some discomfort may occur during the administration of local anaesthetic injections. This part of the process is crucial for ensuring a pain-free experience during subsequent steps.
During the procedure. It’s essential for patients to communicate with their doctors if the anaesthesia starts to wear off during the extraction and placement stages, allowing for a top-up to maintain comfort. Hair transplant procedures should generally not be associated with continuous pain beyond the anaesthetic injections. Reports of ongoing pain throughout the procedure often indicate a substandard clinic where inexperienced doctors or unqualified technicians might be performing the surgery unlawfully.
During the recovery period, you may experience some mild pain in the form of inflammation or swelling — particularly in the recipient and donor site. Some common hair transplant side effects include itching, scabbed scalp tissue and visible redness.
However, within four to ten days of the surgical procedure, these effects should subside significantly and then completely disappear.
How to Aid the Recovery Process
Ultimately, following the proper aftercare instructions provided by your hair transplant surgeon is the best way to get a faster recovery time and avoid long-term pain. Aside from following your doctor’s advice and taking any prescription medicine, the helpful tips below also aid the recovery process:
First, make sure to get plenty of downtime so that your body has time to recover. This means avoiding any exercise besides walking for the first week. Refrain from strenuous activity or exercise that could result in exaggerated fatigue for two weeks.
Second, stay out of direct sunlight for the next ten days. After four days, you may start wearing a hat.
Third, avoid wearing any headwear like caps, hats or beanies. In the same way, it is important to resist the urge to scratch your scalp.
Fourth, refrain from smoking for a few weeks — preferably four or more. Nicotine can decrease blood flow, which may affect the growth of the hair follicle.
Finally, avoid drinking alcohol for at least three days after the hair transplant. Alcohol can affect the blood supply to your head, which can have a negative impact on hair follicles during the healing process.
Overall, the pain after recovery will be managed effectively if you follow your surgeon’s recommendations carefully and patiently.
Different Types of Hair Transplant Procedures
There are two main types of hair transplants that you should be familiar with before you book an appointment with your local hair transplant clinic. You can opt for the FUT or FUE procedure.
FUT Hair Transplant
Follicular unit transplantation (FUT) involves:
Removing small strips from the scalp and separating the hair follicles from that strip before transplantation.
The strip is then separated into smaller hair grafts to isolate the individual hair follicles.
These hair grafts may contain as little as one to four follicles per graft.
The grafts are implanted into the recipient area utilizing either pre-made incisions or sharp implanters.
Finally, a bandage is used to cover and protect the donor area.
Local anaesthesia is used throughout the entire process. A small, linear scar is expected after a FUT hair transplant.
FUE Hair Transplantation
A follicular unit extraction (FUE) hair transplantation involves:
The extraction of individual hair follicles.
Healthy hair follicles are extracted from the donor area using micro punches.
The grafts are implanted into the recipient area utilizing either pre-made incisions or sharp implanters.
Bandages are then placed over the donor area.
In an FUE procedure, minimal scarring is expected. The scar will appear as a small dot on the scalp rather than a line, which is usually undetectable, even with short hair.
The Follicular Unit Extraction method is often considered less invasive than FUT. The recovery process may also be shorter than in FUT.
Why You Might Get a Hair Transplant Procedure
There are many reasons patients decide to get hair transplant operations. Whether it be a general loss of hair or a medical condition,
here are some of the most common reasons for getting a hair transplant.
Androgenetic Alopecia
Androgenetic alopecia, known commonly as pattern hair loss, is a genetic disorder that occurs due to androgens. This results in hair shrinkage and loss.
This condition is found in both men and women — though men most commonly see the effects in the frontotemporal regions, while women are most affected in the frontal, central and parietal regions.
Uneven Hair Loss
Uneven hair loss is a common characteristic of male pattern baldness that causes the hairline to recede asymmetrically.
However, uneven hair loss could also be the result of traction alopecia caused by certain hairstyles that pull on specific regions of the scalp — like tight ponytails.
Important Factors to Consider Before Getting a Hair Transplant
There are a few crucial factors experienced surgeons will take into account before recommending hair transplantation for most patients.
Cause of Hair Loss
Determining the cause of your hair loss is crucial before even considering a hair transplant. While there are numerous potential reasons for hair loss, not all cases are suitable for surgical intervention.
The extent of the hair loss will be assessed to strategise and plan the procedure. While some patients may only need intervention in a small area of the scalp, others might require a more comprehensive procedure.
At this point, you should also consider your overall goals for the hair transplantation. This means considering how you may want the end result to look and how much you are willing to spend on the procedure.
Hair Stability
To get the best results from a hair transplantation, the stability of the hair loss needs to be evaluated. Medical therapy might need to be administered first to stabilise your condition.
Since a hair transplant involves using your own hair follicles, you need to consider the overall health and quality of the hair that will be extracted. You want to make sure that the hair taken from the donor area is not excessively damaged.
While the health of the hair in the donor site is important, it does not need to be in perfect condition. For most patients, as long as there is enough hair of a suitable quality, the transplantation will be approved.
Age & Overall Health
As many hair loss conditions are degenerative, it is best practice to wait until the age of 25 before having a surgical intervention for hair loss. Having a procedure too early could result in multiple procedures. Although 25 is the recommended age, there are no strict age limits, and individuals younger than this can undergo the procedure.
As with any medical procedure, your overall health is always a consideration. Factors such as comorbidities, medication and mental health play a role in the viability of the candidate.
The Benefits of Hair Transplantation
There are several benefits to receiving a hair transplant procedure. Here are a few key benefits to keep in mind.
Increased Confidence
A hair transplant can increase confidence and overall self-esteem by providing a fuller head of hair and a more youthful appearance. Hair transplants help to relieve any insecurities about balding or general loss of hair.
Patients report that the new hair after a hair transplant gives them a new level of confidence that improves their daily life.
Cost-Effective
While there are other methods to dealing with loss of hair, these methods often require regular maintenance – leading to increased recurring costs. Other solutions, such as wigs, weaves, or spray-on hair, might seem like a quick fix, but they need constant upkeep.
A hair transplant is a once-off cost, meaning you won’t have to pay to keep it maintained every few months. While it may initially be more expensive than simply buying a wig, it may be far more cost-effective in the long run.
Natural Processes
A hair transplant is a natural way to solve baldness or loss of hair. Solutions like spray-on hair often involve using harsh chemicals that may further exacerbate hair damage. However, hair transplants use the natural hair from your own head, meaning there is no need for external chemicals.
Additionally, wigs and hair pieces may not match your hair exactly. Since a hair transplant makes use of your own hair, you can expect far more natural-looking results than if you were to buy a wig.
FAQs About Hair Transplant Pain
Now that you know the answer to the question ‘Is hair transplant surgery painful?’, read our answers to some additional common queries.
Is an FUE hair transplant painful?
If you’re wondering, ‘is a hair transplant painful with the FUE technique?’, you’ll be glad to hear that an FUE hair transplant typically involves minimal pain. With the use of local anaesthesia, your scalp will be numbed throughout the entire procedure.
The FUE method also causes less discomfort during recovery than the FUT method. However, neither method will cause extreme pain after the local anaesthetic has worn off.
Is a beard transplant more painful than a hair transplant?
A beard transplant is very similar to a regular hair transplant. The main differences between a beard transplant and a hair transplant are the size of the grafts and where the transplanted hair is inserted.
Once again, using local anaesthetic helps relieve any pain during the surgery itself. The anaesthetic injections on the face may cause discomfort. After that, you will experience minimal pain during your beard transplant.
If you’re experiencing hair thinning, contact Dr Bonaros to find a solution.
Our clinic offers personalised treatment plans at cost-effective rates to ensure you get the most out of your hair transplant.
Dr Bonaros: State-of-the-Art Hair Transplants
Dr Bonaros’ hair transplant clinic offers a wide variety of hair restoration services. From treating male-pattern baldness to body-hair transplants, we provide personalised plans to ensure you have the most comfortable and reliable experience possible.
Our customer-centric approach means that we are committed to prioritising your overall well-being throughout the entire process. We aim to provide a confidence-boosting procedure that is sure to increase your quality of life.
Dr Bonaros is Scotland’s sole member of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, so you can rest assured knowing you’re in capable hands.
If you’re still wondering ‘Are hair transplants painful?’, get in touch with Dr Bonaros to discuss your concerns. Get a quote using our online assessment form to see how we can help with your hair transplant journey.