Hair transplant with sedation

Not really, not in the strict sense. You’re somewhere in between, halfway between awake and asleep. You can answer a question, ask for a drink, flag any discomfort. Some patients fully drift off, others stay awake but very relaxed. It comes down to the dose and to how you personally react to sedatives. It’s not general anaesthesia: you breathe on your own, your reflexes work.

Yes, but reasonably so. The extra cost covers the pre-anaesthesia consultation, a dedicated anaesthetist during the session, monitoring kit and medication. In Dr Cinik’s packages, sedation is an option on every technique: FUE, Sapphire, DHI, manual. The full breakdown sits in our hair transplant pricing details.étail est dans les prix de la greffe de cheveux.

It depends on the protocol. After IV sedation, allow 20 to 45 minutes of observation in a monitoring room. During that time, the medical team keeps an eye on you. Once the discharge criteria are met (normal awareness, stable blood pressure, no nausea), a driver takes you back to the hotel. After light oral sedation or local anaesthesia alone, no special wait. In every case, no driving for 24 hours and an adult escort is strongly advised.

Midazolam, propofol and alprazolam are routine drugs, used every day in operating theatres around the world, with several decades of track record. The main risks (drop in blood pressure, slowed breathing) are anticipated by the anaesthetist thanks to continuous monitoring. An antidote (flumazenil for benzodiazepines) is always available in the room.

It depends on the type of sedation. For IV sedation (moderate or deep), a 4 to 6 hour fast is required for anything solid or dairy. Clear fluids (water, tea without milk) are still allowed up to 2 hours before. This rule cuts the rare risk of stomach contents going into the lungs (aspiration) if vomiting happens during sedation. For light oral sedation or local anaesthesia alone, no strict fast is needed, but a light breakfast is still better.

The decision sits with the anaesthetist, after reviewing your current treatment. Some medications (anticoagulants, anti-inflammatories) need to be stopped 5 to 7 days before the transplant. Others (antihypertensives, antidiabetics) are kept or simply adjusted. Never change a treatment on your own, even a week before the procedure.

Not in the procedure room, to keep things sterile. But she or he can be with you before and after the session. After conscious sedation, having an adult escort is even strongly recommended for the trip back to the hotel and the first 24 hours. The clinic provides comfortable waiting lounges, with internet access.

No known after-effects with the current protocols. You may feel slightly drowsy or unusually tired for the next 24 hours. A good night’s sleep, and that’s it. Some patients keep a partial “memory gap” on the day itself: benzodiazepines briefly block the brain from forming new memories, what doctors call anterograde amnesia. No long-term consequences.

No, it’s not compulsory. Most of Dr Cinik’s patients have their transplant under local anaesthesia alone and come out very happy. Sedation is a comfort option, worth considering if the thought of 6 hours of surgery weighs on you, if you’re needle-phobic or if you’ve had a rough medical experience before. It’s never imposed.

The medical protocols are the same in both countries: same drugs, same monitoring standards, same safety rules. The real difference is on cost. In Turkey, sedation is included or offered at an accessible price, while in the UK it can double the price of a transplant. More details on hair transplant in Turkey.