Hair Transplant Pain

However, problems arise when this number is much higher. Progressive hair loss affects up to 50% of men and women around the world, and while there’s a number of available treatments, few of them provide the desired results.

Hair transplant surgery is becoming an increasingly popular choice of treatment as it’s one of the most effective ways to restore that natural hair look.

Although it’s a cosmetic procedure, it’s still surgery, and many patients are concerned about any potential pain they might experience during and after it.

So, let’s take a closer look at the hair transplant procedure and look into the incidence of transplant pain.

The Process Of Hair Restorative Surgery

Two popular surgical procedures can be performed on patients suffering from hair loss; Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE).

They’re vastly different, but they do bring very similar results.

FUT Hair Transplant

FUT is an invasive surgery that’s often much more uncomfortable and, at times, even painful. To fix hair loss, a donor area of about 10 inches is removed from the back of your head, split into dozens of smaller pieces, and transplanted to the more problematic area.

Of course, a local anesthetic is administered prior to this surgical procedure. Besides the pain felt from the needle that administers the anesthetic, patients shouldn’t feel any discomfort during a FUT transplant but might need to take painkillers for a few days after it.

FUE Hair Transplant

A much faster and more convenient option is the FUE hair transplant. Instead of removing strips of skin from the scalp, the surgeon will shave the back of your head, then extract individual hair follicles from the donor area.

You’ll see minuscule marks in the donor area for a few days after the procedure that will quickly disappear, and there’ll be no stitching and no scarring.

The extracted hair follicles are grafted into the problem area where the surgeon will have made minor incisions.

Again, a local anesthetic is administered, and besides the first needle prick being uncomfortable, you shouldn’t be feeling any pain.

Transplant Pain Following The Surgical Procedure

The FUT transplant is more challenging after the surgical procedure. Patients are more likely to experience pain at the transplant site post-op, and even some swelling in the area could occur.

Since inflammation could occur at the site where the surgeon inserted the hair follicles, anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed to alleviate discomfort and swelling.

The FUE transplant is much simpler, and although your surgeon may prescribe antibiotics or painkillers just in case, these are often not necessary. Still, you should always follow the advice of your doctor following the transplant.

They will inform you about the medicine you should take as well as about what to do post-op, how to wash your hair after the transplant, and more.

The Recovery Process And Pain In The Donor Area

As mentioned, following the FUE transplant, you’ll see tiny marks in the donor area where the individual hair follicles have been extracted from. This will cause no pain, and you shouldn’t feel any discomfort in the donor area.

However, since the FUT transplant is more invasive, some pain could be felt in the donor area during the recovery process. After all, a piece of the scalp will be removed, and the area stitched together. It will take time for the area to heal. You’ll likely need to take painkillers, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory drugs for a few days after the procedure.

Needle-Free Local Anesthetic

The only pain felt during the FUE procedure is the needle prick, and even that has been eliminated at the Dr. Cinik Hair Hospital.

Dr. Cinik administers needle-free local anesthetics to ensure the utmost comfort of the patients during the FUE transplant. This is made possible due to the newly-introduced Jet Injection system.

The Jet Injection system works by applying high pressure and forcing anesthesia through a small hole in the nozzle of the device. The medication is vaporized in the process and passes seamlessly through the skin without puncturing it. It’s the ideal pain-free solution that will make the entire FUE process a breeze.

So, if you’re looking for a painless hair transplant procedure, this is the way to go.