During hair transplantation, local anesthesia is administered for pain relief by injecting it into both the donor and transplantation areas. This method offers several advantages over sedation or general anesthesia. Firstly, local anesthesia precisely numbs only the specific area undergoing the hair transplant, allowing patients to remain conscious and communicate with their loved ones and medical staff during the procedure. Additionally, local anesthesia is generally safer than general anesthesia and entails fewer side effects than sedation.
The recovery period following local anesthesia is significantly shorter. Sedation or general anesthesia, on the other hand, may increase the risk of postoperative complications. Although the injection of anesthetics may cause some discomfort, it typically lasts only a few minutes. It’s essential to consider individual pain thresholds, as sensations vary; there have been cases where certain patients reported no pain at all. The removal of grafts, canal opening, and graft planting are performed exclusively when anesthesia is active, ensuring that patients remain entirely numb throughout the entire operation.
After the transplant, the doctor provides essential medications, including painkillers, to be used in the event of acute pain once the effects of the anesthetics subside.
Therefore, the hair transplant procedure is not as frightening and painful as it might seem. Pain is present, but it is no more intense than a visit to the dentist.