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Is a Hair Transplant Painful?
As the stigma regarding hair restoration surgery diminishes, more and more individuals suffering from male pattern baldness or female pattern baldness are opting for hair transplant surgeries.
However, one question that might deter individuals from seeking a hair transplant remains: Is a hair transplant painful?
Although many people associate medical with high amounts of discomfort and a lengthy recovery time, hair transplants that are performed by a qualified and experienced hair restoration surgeon have minimal pain.
Learn more about the process of hair transplantation surgery and how painful this type of cosmetic surgery is.
Table of Contents
- What are the stages of a hair transplant procedure?
- What kind of pain relief medication will I be given after hair transplant surgery?
- How long does it take for my hair transplant to heal?
- Can I speed up the hair transplant healing process?
- Speak to a specialist trichologist about your hair restoration procedure and hair transplant healing process
What are the stages of a hair transplant procedure?
If you have decided on a hair transplant to restore any lost hair, your hair transplant surgeon will then begin the process and take you through the following steps.
1. Consultation
Your hair loss specialist will assess your bald areas and also take a thorough medical history prior to booking the procedure.
2. Local anaesthesia
On the day of the surgery, the hair restoration surgeon will administer a local anaesthetic in the area to reduce pain. During the procedure, you will be lying down on your front whilst the extraction occurs and will have a comfortable headrest and a breathing hole so that you can maintain a relaxed position.
3. Hair graft harvesting
In a Follicular Unit Transplant (FUE), individual hair grafts are harvested directly from the donor area. The surgeon will select hair follicles, one-by-one and will separate the follicular units by making a circular incision with a punch. The follicular units (once loosened) are then pulled from the surrounding tissue. Once the grafts are extracted, the donor area is covered with an antiseptic dressing that can be removed the following day.
4. Recovery and post-operative practise
You will be given clear (usually written) guidance by your hair loss specialist as to how to manage your recovery in the best possible way in the forth-coming weeks. Pay particular attention to the advice given and make sure to raise any specific concerns about recovery at home or at work.
What kind of pain relief medication will I be given after hair transplant surgery?
Depending on which clinic you choose, you will receive guidance about how to manage potential discomfort post-transplant.
At The Wimpole Clinic, our specialist trichologists will generally prescribe tablets known to help reduce recovery time and any associated discomfort which may arise as you go about normal life. Most clients find that they do not need to use the extra pain relief. Our hair loss specialists prescribe the following medications:
- Prednisolone. This medication is given to reduce swelling post-surgery.
- Tetracycline. This medication is prescribed for the purposes of keeping infection away.
- Paracetamol. This over-the-counter medication is recommended to relieve small amounts of pain following the surgery.
How long does it take for my hair transplant to heal?
This is one of the questions that concern patients most post-transplant. Some redness of the skin on the scalp after treatment is completely normal in the hair transplant healing process and will fade naturally over a few weeks. The paler the skin, the longer the redness takes to fade.
This redness is down to the healing process and inflammation caused to the scalp tissue following the placement of the new hair. Patients do not generally find that it is too unsightly and especially with FUE hair transplant, evidence is very discreet.
Can I speed up the hair transplant healing process?
It is vitally important to stick to the post-hair loss surgery guidance you are given and avoid too much contact with the recovering area. Hair washing, hat-wearing, and sports should be particularly paid attention to avoid disruption of the healing.
Speak to a specialist trichologist about your hair restoration procedure and hair transplant healing process
If you have any queries or concerns about having a hair transplant or want to hear about the procedure straight from an expert, the best thing is to speak to a qualified hair loss specialist.
They will be able to assess your hair loss and guide you in choosing the best hair restoration remedy for you at that time. The Wimpole Clinic in London has the most experienced team of hair loss specialists in the UK. Here is a message from one of our happy clients:
‘I really appreciate the care I received from The Wimpole Clinic team during the hair surgery. The healing process was fantastic, less than two months after the hair transplant and the difference is amazing and visible. I now carry on without anything to cover my head. I thank you for the confidence that you have given me. Once again thank you so much.’
We offer a free, no obligation consultation about your hair loss so that you can consider all your options with the help of your trichologist and come to a decision that you are completely happy with.
The Wimpole Clinic offers FUE Hair, Beard & Eyebrow Transplants & Trichology.
Talk to a specialist ☎ 020 7935 1861.
Talk to a specialist ☎ 020 7935 1861.
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