Is Hair Transplant Surgery Painful?

Surgery of any kind isn’t anyone’s idea of how to spend a day. Surgery takes time and effort, during, before, and after your surgeon does his or her work. Hair transplant surgery is no different. But just because hair transplant surgery isn’t a day at the beach doesn’t mean it needs to be unpleasant, and it certainly doesn’t need to be painful. In fact, at the Miami Hair & Skin Institute, we make patient comfort a top priority during our hair transplant procedures. If you have been apprehensive about hair transplant surgery because of concerns about it being a painful process, rest assured that pain is not part of the program.

A Relaxing Environment, A Light Sedative, and Local Anesthesia

When you arrive, our friendly and knowledgeable staff will do everything they can to put you at ease and make you comfortable. You will meet with your surgeon who will describe exactly what will take place and what you can expect during your procedure, even if they have previously discussed such matters with you. Feel free to ask your surgeon any questions or express any concerns you may have. We are committed to making your hair transplant surgery as successful as possible. That includes keeping you fully informed as to what is about to happen.

You will then settle into your surgery suite, which we designed to be a welcoming and relaxed environment rather than a cold and sterile one. A technician will massage your scalp before administering local anesthesia, like the kind dentists use. The massage creates a vibration on the scalp that works in combination with the anesthesia to minimize any discomfort.

We will also give you a mild sedative at the beginning of the session to minimize any anxiety you may be feeling. The brief time it takes to anesthetize the area is the only marginally uncomfortable part of the procedure, and the above technique usually causes less discomfort than a visit to the dentist.

Rest, Relax, and Tune Out During Surgery

During your surgery, you can either rest, read, listen to music, or watch movies or TV on your phone or tablet. Your procedure will likely take several hours; the exact duration of your session will depend on the number of grafts we are transplanting. For a 2000 graft case, the average time is about six hours.

After your hair transplant surgery, your doctor will give you detailed post-operative instructions to help you heal and get you back to your routine as quickly as possible, which is often the very next day.

As noted, since the procedure involves the use of a mild sedative, you should arrange to have a friend or family member drive you to our office and pick you up after your surgery.

Call the Miami Hair Institute Today to Learn More About Hair Transplant Surgery

If concerns about pain have kept you from considering hair transplant surgery, we invite you to contact the Miami Hair Institute and arrange a personalized consultation with one of our world-renowned hair restoration physicians. We are confident that once you learn how pain-free the procedure is, you will want to move forward and resolve the hair loss issues that have bothered you for so long. 

To receive a personalized evaluation and treatment plan, contact us online or call our office directly at 305-925-0222.