Discover what type of anaesthesia is used in a hair transplant.
What type of anaesthetic is used in a hair transplant procedure?
A local anaesthetic should be used for a hair transplant. General anaesthesia is never required.
The hair transplant surgeons at HRBR have found that most people tolerate a hair transplant procedure using local anaesthetic phenomenally well.
On the day of surgery, patients are also administered a premedication to help alleviate their anxiety. This not only ensures the procedure runs smoothly but also enables patients to rest more comfortably during the surgery.
Benefits of local anaesthesia in procedures
Local anaesthesia is a way of numbing part of your body, so you don’t feel pain. It’s often used during medical or dental procedures. Unlike general anaesthesia, it doesn’t make you lose consciousness. This makes it safer, easier to prepare for, and quicker to recover from.
How a Local Anaesthetic Works
Local anaesthetics block the nerves in the treated area from sending pain signals to your brain. You won’t feel pain, though you might still notice pressure or movement. The numbness usually starts within a few minutes and wears off after a few hours, when normal feeling returns.
After most hair transplant procedures patients report a residual numbness for a few weeks following surgery. This is not related to the local anaesthetic but rather the procedure itself. The sensation on the scalp returns to normal after a period of time for all patients and is a normal part of healing following hair transplant surgery.
Recovery and Aftercare
Typical recovery timeline
Most patients undergoing an FUT procedure will return to work 3 days following their procedure. Most patients undergoing an FUE procedure will wait up to 2 weeks before returning to work to allow some of their hair to regrow as usually the entire head is shaved when undergoing an FUE procedure. FUE patients are however fine to return to work earlier if this does not concern them.
It is recommended to avoid strenuous physical activity for 4 weeks post operatively for FUT hair transplants and for 2 weeks for FUE hair transplants. This is to avoid the stretching of the scars.
At HRBR, we provide a detailed guide to help you understand what to expect after your surgery. Because hair transplant surgery is a delicate process, it’s very important to follow the aftercare instructions given by our medical team to achieve the best possible results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a hair transplant hurt?
The great majority of our patients are quite comfortable both during and after their hair transplantation procedure; occasionally a patient says he / she had some pain.
Patients are given over the counter pain killers which are available for use after the procedure should they be required. Many of our patients find that they do not need to take any pain killers at all after their hair transplantation procedure.
How long does the surgery take?
Most operations take between 6 and 10 hours. This is exacting work and, therefore, requires considerable time to ensure best results –we have a team of up to 18 doctors, nurses and technicians working on each patient who are highly skilled in these techniques.
Further Reading
Our experts have written numerous articles on hair loss, its treatment to include hair transplant surgery and related topics.
If you’d like to explore your options or learn more about HRBR, please get in touch with our team.
