Image illustrating a man worried about hair transplant pain.

The hair transplant procedure is the best treatment available for those who are suffering from hair loss. This technique will make it possible for the hair to regrow from the missing bald areas by extracting hair follicles from one part of the body to the donor areas where the hair is missing. While it is still a surgery, the hair transplant procedure is tolerated very well by most patients. They claim that they didn't feel any pain during the surgery and the discomfort was mild. During the procedure, the surgeon will administer local anesthesia to numb the recipient and donor area. The two main techniques of hair transplant procedure are Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) and the FUE hair transplant. Each one of these procedures has its differences and advantages, that you should take into consideration before you decide. In this blog article, we will help you decide between the two procedures, how they work and how to manage the pain of it. 

What Does A Hair Transplant Involve?

As we mentioned before there are 2 main types of hair transplant procedures available. One is the follicular unit transplantation (FUT), also known as the strip method and the other one is the follicular unit extraction (FUE). The hair transplant procedure will be done in one day and the patient will not be administered in the hospital, but they can go home to rest and recover. Sometimes it can take 2 sessions for the hair transplant to be done if the area that is being treated is large, but this rarely happens. You should also know that the procedure will be done under the effect of local anesthesia, which will make it possible for the patient to be awake and communicate with the doctor, but he won't feel any pain or discomfort throughout the procedure. Furthermore, we will briefly explain the differences and the techniques of FUE and FUT.

Image illustrating a FUE hair transplant procedure at Queen Clinic in Turkey.

Follicular unit transplantation (FUT or Strip method)

Firstly, we will explain the Follicular unit transplantation, shortly known as FUT. During this procedure, the doctor will remove a thin strip of skin from the back or side of your scalp and he will divide it into smaller pieces. These pieces contain 1 to 4 hair grafts each. This site where the strips are taken will be closed with stitches to recover and the grafts are going to be placed into tiny cuts made where the hair is missing. The scars will not be visible if you keep your hair long enough to cover it. Also, you should know that the doctor will not need to shave all your head but only the area where the incisions will be made, will need to be trimmed. 

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

Follicular unit extraction, shortly known as FUE, is considered a more advanced and innovative technique than the FUT due to its many advantages. During this procedure, the hair follicles will be extracted one by one and will be placed in the donor area, which can either be the head, beard, or eyebrows. This technique allows the doctor to be more precise and the scars will be minimal or even invincible. The back of the head should be shaved to make it easier for the doctor.

Hair Transplant Pain

As we mentioned before, either if you choose the Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) or Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), small cuts will be made. There are pain nerves all throughout the body and face, therefore if these nerves are not cut off when a surgeon makes an incision into the skin, it may cause pain and discomfort. Our scalp has numerous nerves, thus it is necessary to anesthetize them to prevent their functioning before performing hair transplant surgery so that the patient has no discomfort or pain at all. The surgeons at Queen Clinic may use a variety of methods to numb the area during the hair transplant surgery. The first thing to be done is to make the patient feel calm and comfortable in the clinic environment because stress can increase the pain level and this can be administered by giving pain relieving medication. During the procedure the surgeon will use local anesthetic injections, to eliminate any pain or discomfort level. 

Image illustrating a FUE hair transplant procedure with local anesthesia.

Local Anesthesia Injections

Injections of local anesthesia will be the first stage of the procedure. These are extremely tiny injections made into the regions where your surgeon would remove hair and insert new hair. The injections are carried out with a needle that is so thin it is almost as wide as a human hair. Our surgeons go above and beyond despite the little needle. In order to prevent your brain from getting pain signals, they put a gadget on your skin. This implies that any discomfort brought on by the initial numbing injections is much diminished. Your entire scalp will be numb after this phase is complete, and the operation shouldn't hurt.

Giving Pain Pain-Relieving Medications

Our surgeons will also offer you some painkiller medicine in addition to the local anesthetic. These medicines will assist in eliminating your discomfort throughout the treatment and further induce relaxation.

Ensuring Every Patient Is Comfortable And Relaxed

You should know that your brain perceives pain more intensely when you're under stress or pressure. So one of the surgeon's top duties is to keep every patient comfortable and at ease in any way he can. Our specially constructed hair transplant facility is made to keep each patient at ease. At our clinic, we employ a variety of methods, such as aromatherapy, and calm music, and the temperature will be set to your comfort. 

Pain And Discomfort During Hair Transplantation

As we mentioned before, local anesthesia will be administered during the hair transplant procedure, which makes sure the patient will not feel any pain or discomfort. When the procedure starts, the patient can feel a little pressure where the doctor will make the incisions. The level of comfort we provide in our clinic may even make you fall asleep. We pay a lot of attention when it comes to our patients' comfort and we are proud to say that we make sure that their process is as relaxing as it can be.

However, you should know more about the hair transplants procedure and what is going to happen during it. After the doctor makes sure you are completely numb, there are two parts to the hair transplant procedure. The first one is the removal of grafts from the donor area which is usually the back of the scalp and the second step of the procedure is the implementation of the hair follicles in the balding and thinning areas that you may want to improve. 

Both the recipient and donor area will need to be numb before the incisions are made and the hair follicles are implemented back into the scalp, beard, or eyebrow area. The same local anesthesia will be injected into the recipient area or, more precisely, exactly in front of the recipient region a few millimeters in front of the hairline, and the entire area will numb within a few minutes. This procedure is identical to the donor numbing procedure. 

Once the numbness takes effect, the patient won't feel anything when the doctor and nurses operate there. The patient won't feel anything else all day long because of the numbness in the recipient area. Following this, the entire scalp is entirely numb from the front to the donor area in the back. Now the entire procedure may be performed pain-free. There won't be any physical pain from the procedure itself, but the patient might wish to reposition themselves and take pauses to stretch and move about to minimize the discomfort of sitting for an extended period. In the event that the patient experiences discomfort, they will alert the nurses and the doctor will provide further anesthetic injections.

Image illustrating the initial results of a FUE hair transplant in Turkey.

After Surgery

So after discussing the pain level during the surgery, what about after the surgery is done? We now know that anesthesia will be used to numb the pain, but after the effects of it go down, what happens then?

Thankfully, the hair transplant procedure has a high success rate and people who have done it claim there is little discomfort during the recovery period. To diminish these side effects, the doctor will recommend some medicine you could use to ease the discomfort and pain. The effect of anesthesia will last about 3 more hours after you get out of the operation room and this is the time you should use the medication if you need it. 

The transition between medications should go smoothly and without any discomfort if the patient follows the proper instructions and takes some medication before the numbing wears off. After taking the prescribed number of additional doses of painkillers as directed the night after surgery, they will go to bed pain-free. You should sleep with your head in an elevated position to avoid any contact with the incision sight. The pain should be gone by the next morning and the pain will have been substituted, so the patient won't feel the need to have more medication.

Overall you should keep in mind that the recovery period is different for everyone and if you are experiencing any kind of abnormal side effect contact your surgeon to see what the next steps are.

Is There Any Pain Associated With Local Anaesthesia?

The majority of the time, patients report feeling comfortable throughout hair transplant procedures. The procedure is carried out in a pain-free environment with the least amount of discomfort feasible. An extremely thin needle is used to inject local anesthesia under the skin. While it is being done, a very slight discomfort could be experienced. But it can't be described as painful.

Are There Any Alternatives To Local Anaesthesia?

Most patients who continuously ask if the hair transplant procedure is painful are just making the process more stressful for themselves. Even though there is a significant demand for hair transplants nowadays, some worry because they fear they could experience unmanageable pain and discomfort. On the other hand, hair transplantation is done under sedation anesthesia in addition to local anesthesia in accordance with the patient's wishes. Patients receiving sedation anesthesia are not fully asleep while they are treated and they can communicate with the surgeon. However, it is sure that the patient will not experience any pain throughout the operation with either sedation option used. Patients occasionally favor general anesthesia. 

Image illustrating a man recovering from a hair transplant in Turkey.

Why Do People Get Drowsy After Hair Transplantation?

The anesthesia used on the location where the roots are removed from and the area to be transplanted is the major cause of sleepiness and drowsiness following the hair transplantation procedure. The length and intensity of numbness differ from patient to patient, which is understandable given that the quantity of anesthesia is dependent on the physiology of the patient being treated.

How Long Does Drowsiness Last After Hair Transplantation?

The important thing to remember about the numbness that results from anesthesia is that it will go away with time. Generally speaking, the tiredness that goes away during the first 24 hours following hair transplantation may last longer. In this instance, the experts' suggestion is that it is best to work closely with the treating doctor and to get in touch with him or her personally for durations longer than 24 hours.

It is very common to experience tingling in the area where the hair transplant was done afterward. Following a hair transplant, the numbness gradually goes away 8 to 10 hours following the procedure. The numbness will totally go away in a few weeks when the surgical site has healed.

However, some people may have numbness following hair transplantation for a longer length of time. In some patients, the numbness that lasts for a few months lasts even 8 to 9 months following the procedure. However, this is typical, and numbness may still be felt in the donor area for up to a year following the procedure, but you don't have to worry because this doesn't indicate that something is wrong or that any problem is present. 

How Long Does It Take For Hair Transplant Pain To Go Away?

Another often-asked question when it comes to hair transplant procedures is "When will the pain go away?" In the area that has undergone surgery, discomfort is frequently experienced after hair transplantation. How long will the discomfort linger following a hair transplant is a common question. Depending on the hair transplantation technique employed, there may be pain following the procedure. In the FUE procedure, the discomfort in the head and neck is often felt for 3–4 days; in the FUT method, it may linger for up to 2 weeks. It will be hard to estimate how long the discomfort will linger, though as it depends on the patient.

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Is hair transplantation painful? Understanding how it works

The hair transplant procedure is the best treatment available for those suffering from hair loss. This technique regrows hair in missing bald areas by extracting hair follicles from one part of the body to donor areas where hair is missing. Although it is a surgical procedure, the hair transplant procedure is tolerated very well by most patients. They report that they felt no pain during the procedure and that discomfort was mild. During the procedure, the surgeon administers local anesthesia to numb the recipient and donor areas. The two main hair transplantation techniques are follicular unit transplantation (FUT) and the FUE hair transplant. Each one of these procedures has its differences and advantages, that you should take into consideration before you decide. In this blog article, we will help you decide between the two procedures, how they work and how to manage the pain of it. 

What Does A Hair Transplant Involve?

As we have already mentioned, there are two main types of hair transplant procedures. One is follicular unit transplantation (FUT), also known as the strip method, and the other is follicular unit extraction (FUE). Hair transplant surgery is performed in one day, and the patient is not hospitalized but can go home to rest and recover. Sometimes 2 sessions may be needed for hair transplantation if the area to be treated is large, but this rarely happens. It is good to know that the procedure will be performed under local anesthesia, which will allow the patient to be awake and communicate with the doctor, but he or she will not feel any pain or discomfort during the whole procedure. In addition, we will briefly explain the differences and techniques of FUE and FUT.

Image illustrating a FUE hair transplant procedure at Queen Clinic in Turkey.

Follicular unit transplantation (FUT or Strip method)

First, we will explain follicular unit transplantation, briefly known as FUT. During this procedure, the doctor removes a thin strip of skin from the back or side of the scalp and divides it into smaller pieces. These pieces contain 1 to 4 hair grafts each. The site where the strips were taken will be closed with sutures to recover, and the grafts will be inserted into small cuts made where hair is missing. Scars will not be visible if the hair is long enough to cover them. Also, it is good to know that the doctor will not have to shave the entire head, but only the area where the incisions will be made. 

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE)

Follicular unit extraction, briefly known as FUE, is considered a more advanced and innovative technique than FUT because of its many advantages. During this procedure, hair follicles are extracted one by one and placed in the donor area, which can be the head, beard, or eyebrows. This technique allows the physician to be more precise, and scars will be minimal or even invincible. The back of the head should be shaved to facilitate the doctor's work.

Hair Transplant Pain

As we have already mentioned, whether follicular unit transplantation (FUT) or follicular unit extraction (FUE) is chosen, small cuts will be made. There are pain nerves throughout the body and face, so if these nerves are not cut when the surgeon makes an incision in the skin, they can cause pain and discomfort. Our scalp has numerous nerves, so it is necessary to anesthetize to prevent them from functioning before performing hair transplant surgery so that the patient does not experience any discomfort or pain. Surgeons at Queen Clinic can use several methods to anesthetize the area during hair transplant surgery. The first thing to do is to make the patient feel calm and comfortable in the clinic environment, because stress can increase the level of pain, and this can be administered with pain medications. During the procedure, the surgeon will use local anesthetic injections to eliminate any pain or discomfort. 

Image illustrating a FUE hair transplant procedure with local anesthesia.

Local Anesthesia Injections

Local anesthesia injections will be the first phase of the surgery. These are very small injections given to regions where the surgeon will remove hairs and insert new ones. The injections are done with a needle so thin that it is almost as wide as a human hair. Our surgeons go further, despite the small needle. To prevent the brain from receiving pain signals, they apply a device to the skin. This means that the discomfort caused by the initial numbing injections is much less. By the end of this stage, the entire scalp will be numb and the operation should not hurt.

Giving Pain Pain-Relieving Medications

In addition to local anesthetic, our surgeons will also offer you pain medications. These medications will help eliminate discomfort during treatment and promote relaxation.

Ensuring Every Patient Is Comfortable And Relaxed

It is good to know that the brain perceives pain more intensely when under stress or pressure. Therefore, one of the surgeon's main tasks is to make every patient comfortable and at ease in any way. Our hair transplant facility is specially built to make every patient comfortable. We use various methods in our clinic, such as aromatherapy and quiet music, and the temperature will be adjusted according to your comfort. 

Pain And Discomfort During Hair Transplantation

As we have already mentioned, local anesthesia will be administered during the hair transplant procedure, which ensures that the patient does not experience any pain or discomfort. At the beginning of the procedure, the patient may feel slight pressure at the site where the doctor will make the incisions. The level of comfort we offer in our clinic can even put you to sleep. We pay close attention to our patients' comfort, and we are proud to say that we make sure their process is as relaxing as possible.

However, you should know more about the hair transplants and what will happen during the same. After the doctor has ensured that the patient is completely numb, the hair transplant procedure has two parts. The first is the harvesting of the grafts from the donor area, which is usually the back of the scalp, while the second stage of the procedure is the insertion of the hair follicles into the areas of balding and thinning that you want to improve. 

Both the recipient and donor areas will need to be numbed before incisions are made and hair follicles are reinserted into the scalp, beard, or brow area. The same local anesthesia will be injected into the recipient area or, more precisely, exactly in front of the recipient region, a few millimeters before the hairline, and the entire area will go numb in a few minutes. This procedure is identical to donor numbing. 

Once the numbing has taken effect, the patient will feel nothing when the doctor and nursing staff operate. The patient will not feel anything else for the whole day because of the numbness in the receiving area. Afterwards, the entire scalp is completely numb, from the front to the donor area in the back. Now the whole procedure can be performed without pain. There will be no physical pain from the procedure itself, but the patient may wish to reposition and take breaks to stretch and move around to minimize the discomfort of sitting for a prolonged period. Should the patient experience discomfort, he or she will alert the nursing staff and the physician will provide additional anesthetic injections.

Image illustrating the initial results of a FUE hair transplant in Turkey.

After surgery

Having talked about the level of pain during surgery, what happens after surgery? We know that anesthesia is used to relieve pain, but after the anesthesia wears off, what happens?

Fortunately, the hair transplant procedure has a high success rate, and people who have undergone it say that discomfort during the recovery period is minimal. To lessen these side effects, your doctor will recommend some medications for you to use to ease the discomfort and pain. The effect of anesthesia will still last for about 3 hours after leaving the operating room, and this is when you will need to use medications if you need them. 

Switching from one medication to another should go smoothly and without any discomfort if the patient follows the correct instructions and takes a few medications before the numbness wears off. After taking the prescribed number of additional doses of pain medication as indicated, the patient will go to bed the night after surgery without pain. It is necessary to sleep with the head in an elevated position to avoid any contact with the view of the incision. The pain should disappear by the next morning and the pain will have been replaced, so the patient will not feel the need to take any more medication.

Overall you should keep in mind that the recovery period is different for everyone and if you are experiencing any kind of abnormal side effect contact your surgeon to see what the next steps are.

Does local anesthesia cause pain?

In most cases, patients report feeling comfortable during the hair transplant procedure. The procedure is performed in a painless environment with minimal discomfort. An extremely fine needle is used to inject local anesthesia under the skin. A very slight discomfort may be felt during the operation. However, it cannot be described as painful.

Are there alternatives to local anesthesia?

Most patients who constantly wonder whether hair transplant surgery is painful are only making the process more stressful for themselves. Although the demand for hair transplants is considerable nowadays, some people worry because they fear they may experience unmanageable pain and discomfort. Instead, hair transplantation is performed under sedative anesthesia as well as local anesthesia, according to the patient's wishes. Patients under sedation anesthesia are not completely asleep during the treatment and can communicate with the surgeon. However, it is certain that the patient will feel no pain during the operation with both sedation options used. Sometimes patients prefer general anesthesia. 

Image illustrating a man recovering from a hair transplant in Turkey.

Why Do People Get Drowsy After Hair Transplantation?

The anesthesia used where the roots are removed and in the area to be transplanted is the main cause of drowsiness after hair transplant surgery. The duration and intensity of numbness varies from patient to patient, which is understandable since the amount of anesthesia depends on the physiology of the patient being treated.

How Long Does Drowsiness Last After Hair Transplantation?

The important thing to remember about the numbness that results from anesthesia is that it will pass with time. In general, fatigue that disappears in the first 24 hours after hair transplantation may last longer. In this case, the experts' suggestion is to work closely with the treating physician and contact him or her personally for periods longer than 24 hours.

It is very common to experience tingling in the area where the hair transplant was performed. After a hair transplant, the numbness gradually disappears 8-10 hours after surgery. The numbness will disappear completely in a few weeks when the surgical site has healed.

However, some people may suffer from numbness after hair transplantation for a longer period of time. In some patients, the numbness that lasts for a few months goes on for as long as 8-9 months after the procedure. However, this is typical, and numbness may still be felt in the donor area up to a year after surgery, but there is no need to worry because this does not indicate that something is wrong or that there is a problem. 

How Long Does It Take For Hair Transplant Pain To Go Away?

Another question often asked when discussing hair transplant surgery is, "When will the pain go away?" In the area undergoing surgery, there is often discomfort after hair transplantation. How long will the discomfort last after a hair transplant is a common question. Depending on the hair transplant technique used, pain may occur after surgery. In the FUE procedure, discomfort in the head and neck is often felt for 3-4 days; in the FUT method, it may persist for up to 2 weeks. However, it is difficult to estimate how long the discomfort will persist, as it depends on the patient.

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