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How Severe Is the Pain of Incisional Hair Transplantation?

MOMO Plastic Surgery · 모모성형외과 · December 2, 2022

How Severe Is the Pain of Incisional Hair Transplantation? As stress in modern society has increased rapidly, the number of people who are under a great deal of stress in daily lif...

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This page is an English translation of a Korean Naver Blog archive entry. For exact wording and source context, verify against the Korean archive original and the original Naver post.

Clinic: MOMO Plastic Surgery

Original post date: December 2, 2022

Translated at: April 24, 2026 at 5:08 AM

Medical note: This translation does not guarantee medical accuracy or suitability for treatment decisions.

How Severe Is the Pain of Incisional Hair Transplantation? image 1

As stress in modern society has increased rapidly,

the number of people who are under a great deal of

stress in daily life due to hair loss has also grown

exponentially, so it would not be an exaggeration to

say that many more people are experiencing this.

To ease these concerns, many methods have been

studied, and various approaches aimed at improvement

have been introduced in many forms.

How Severe Is the Pain of Incisional Hair Transplantation? image 2

Some people seek help from relevant institutions and

take various folk remedies while looking for different

methods that suit them, and as a result, many

different approaches have been proposed. Among them, there are also types that slow the

progress by taking medication, but if the condition

has already progressed significantly and is clearly

visible at a poor stage, a procedural approach can

also be considered.

Thanks to the great progress made compared to the

past, there have been many improvements over the

procedural methods used before, so in many cases

you can now expect more satisfactory results.

How Severe Is the Pain of Incisional Hair Transplantation? image 3

Because of this, people have become curious about

how much pain accompanies the procedure, as well as

a variety of other aspects such as the type and price.

The treatment methods are divided into incisional and

non-incisional approaches. In the former, the scalp is

dissected and then hair is harvested and transplanted.

Because the follicles are obtained all at once, it has

the advantage of requiring a shorter procedure time.

How Severe Is the Pain of Incisional Hair Transplantation? image 4

The non-incisional method is a technique in which the

occipital area is not dissected and the hair is removed

and transplanted one by one. Because the procedure is

more difficult, the price tends to be higher and the

operation time can be longer.

This can be applied differently depending on each

person’s requirements, follicle condition, and scalp

condition, so rather than deciding in advance, it is

better to refer to what kind of procedure process will

be used.

How Severe Is the Pain of Incisional Hair Transplantation? image 5

In general, before undergoing a procedure, many

people first look into what kind of treatment is

involved, but many are especially interested in the

level of pain that follows. Among them, those who are

considering an incisional approach will likely be

curious about the pain of incisional hair transplantation.

How Severe Is the Pain of Incisional Hair Transplantation? image 6

In fact, it is difficult to classify this in a uniform

way, and it must be understood that it can vary

significantly from person to person.

Some people say it hurts, while others say it does

not, so it can differ depending on how each person

receives and feels it.

How Severe Is the Pain of Incisional Hair Transplantation? image 7

Usually, many people choose the non-incisional option

because they judge incisional hair transplantation pain

to be more severe and think the pain caused by the

procedure will be greater.

It is best to find the direction that suits you, and if

you want to reduce pain, it may be a good idea to

look into how the pain management system at the

relevant institution is set up.

How Severe Is the Pain of Incisional Hair Transplantation? image 8

Usually, when the procedure is performed, the area of

operation is limited to the surface, so local anesthetic

is used and the pain is often not felt strongly, but

many people also say that most incisional hair

transplantation pain is greater after the treatment.

This is because the pain appears as the anesthesia

gradually wears off.

How Severe Is the Pain of Incisional Hair Transplantation? image 9

The degree of discomfort can also feel different

depending on the method.

If no incision is made, there is no dissection, and

because the follicles are carefully harvested one by

one using a punch tool, after the procedure and as

the anesthesia wears off, there may be a slight burning

sensation and mild pain in the occipital area, but in

most cases it disappears quickly, so you can expect

to return to daily life promptly.

How Severe Is the Pain of Incisional Hair Transplantation? image 10

On the other hand, with incisional hair transplantation,

because tension is created in order to dissect the scalp,

remove the tissue, and then suture it, pain appears as

the anesthesia wears off.

The affected area may throb, sleeping can be

uncomfortable for several days, it may be difficult to

get a good night’s sleep, and it can affect daily life,

so please keep this in mind.

The pain of incisional hair transplantation is said to

decrease after about a week, so you may not need to

worry too much about it.

However, if the scalp is thick and firm, or if a very

large amount needs to be harvested, it may last

longer or be more severe.

How Severe Is the Pain of Incisional Hair Transplantation? image 11

Of course, the degree of pain is important, but after

the surgery there may also be problems with wound

recovery and various abnormal symptoms may occur,

so it must be carefully assessed before making a

decision.

An occipital incision may be performed, and depending

on each person’s conditions there may be differences,

so it is best to have a thorough consultation with the

medical staff and, through analysis, look for the best

way to reduce the burden.

How Severe Is the Pain of Incisional Hair Transplantation? image 12

More than incisional hair transplantation pain, the part

that should probably be examined more carefully is the

question of graft survival rate.

The purpose of the procedure itself is to achieve a

fuller hairstyle, so it is better to focus on how well

the grafts take root and how smoothly the postoperative

course can proceed.

How Severe Is the Pain of Incisional Hair Transplantation? image 13

In fact, many people think there is a big difference in

the survival rate between non-incisional and incisional

methods.

However, as technology has advanced and the two now

reach a similar level, there may be no need to hesitate

about treatment out of concern for graft survival.

The reason people think there is a difference is likely

because the dissection method is more familiar and

widely used.

How Severe Is the Pain of Incisional Hair Transplantation? image 14

Of course, there were times in the past when research

results showed differences, leading people to develop

such prejudice, but since medical techniques have

advanced greatly, both methods can now be expected

to have excellent outcomes.

How Severe Is the Pain of Incisional Hair Transplantation? image 15

However, this is not absolute, and there are always

exceptions.

This refers to cases where a large amount of the

procedure must be performed.

On average, 2,000 to 3,000 grafts is a common range,

and in many cases the difference at this level is not

considered large. However, if more than that is needed

or a large-volume procedure is required, the outcome

can differ, so it is necessary to consult with medical

staff who have extensive clinical experience and high

technical skill to explore which method is right for you,

think it through, and carefully choose the direction to

go in.

How Severe Is the Pain of Incisional Hair Transplantation? image 16

To reduce pain after surgery or minimize the recovery

period, thorough aftercare must be provided.

Since the two weeks after the procedure can affect the

graft survival rate, it is best to avoid anything that

may cause irritation as much as possible. Smoking as

well as drinking should be avoided, and excessive

exercise should also be refrained from, as excessive

pressure can lead to negative outcomes.

How Severe Is the Pain of Incisional Hair Transplantation? image 17

In addition, if you follow the guidance provided by the

relevant institution and make sure that the affected

area does not become dry, you will likely be able to

achieve a satisfactory outcome.

Because pain varies from person to person, it is worth

emphasizing that it may be premature to judge that it

will definitely hurt or definitely not hurt.

How Severe Is the Pain of Incisional Hair Transplantation? image 18

How Severe Is the Pain of Incisional Hair Transplantation? image 19

How Severe Is the Pain of Incisional Hair Transplantation? image 20

How Severe Is the Pain of Incisional Hair Transplantation? image 21

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