If You’re Worried About Hair Transplant Pain, Consider an Alternative

The transplantation of natural hair can be divided into the strip or non-shaven method,

and it is a procedure in which healthy natural hair located at the back of the head is collected

and transplanted into the areas each patient wants. Compared with other surgical operations,

it is considered to carry less risk, but since it is still a surgery, a fair amount of concern

naturally follows before making a final decision. Among those who are preparing to undergo a

hair transplantation procedure due to hair loss, many feel afraid simply because the procedure

is performed directly on the head. Even if the instruments are very fine, pain from hair

transplantation that can occur when extraction is repeated thousands of times is unavoidable,

so before treatment, some people choose sedation anesthesia and proceed with the procedure.

The non-shaven method, which collects grafts by follicular unit, has less pain from hair

transplantation compared with the traditional method that proceeds by excising the scalp,

because it does not involve cutting the skin and instead extracts and redistributes the follicles

one by one. However, if the procedure covers a wide area or if you are especially sensitive to

pain, fear may come first before you begin. These days, the procedure is often carried out using

a sleep-based method that minimizes this kind of pain, so many people feel as if the procedure

is already over once they wake up from a short nap.

Rather than general anesthesia, which may involve some risk, the procedure is performed using an

automated medical device that has completed FDA/KFDA certification and can also be used on

pregnant women. A mild dose of nitrous oxide (N20) gas is used to induce a light sleep-like

state before the procedure is carried out. Because it is not a systemic or narcotic drug,

you remain in a shallow sleep state while still being able to breathe on your own. However, in

order to prioritize patient safety, temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, pulse, and blood

oxygen saturation are continuously monitored during the procedure. It may also be a good idea to

check whether a system is in place that can safely confirm the results.

Some people worry in advance about what to do if the anesthesia wears off during surgery. Since the

attending physician keeps checking the current condition continuously, this situation does not

usually occur. Even if it does, additional anesthesia can be administered to minimize hair

transplantation pain. The duration of application may vary depending on the amount of grafts and

whether the method is strip or non-shaven, and the recovery time is very short at 1 to 3 minutes,

allowing a quick return to daily life even immediately after the procedure.

However, on the day of treatment, not only the anesthesia but also hair transplantation pain may

occur after it wears off, so it is recommended that you do not drive home alone or force yourself

to carry on with daily activities after the procedure. Since the recovery time and level of pain

can differ depending on each person's health condition, rather than setting a specific and exact

standard, it is advisable to rest comfortably and wait for recovery for about a week after the

procedure.

Hair transplantation pain after the procedure is not severe enough to be unbearable, but because

you have undergone a treatment, discomfort or mild pain may continue due to the resulting

stimulation. At times like this, rather than simply enduring it, taking the painkillers prescribed

by the surgeon appropriately can help with a faster recovery. In addition, applying cold

compresses to relieve pain and swelling can constrict blood vessels, reduce swelling, and also

ease pain, so it is recommended that you apply cold compresses from time to time for about 48

hours.

Hair transplantation pain naturally fades over time, so there is no need to worry excessively or

feel burdened. However, if severe pain continues or symptoms such as numbness, neuralgia,

bleeding, infection, facial swelling, or folliculitis appear, you should promptly receive treatment

and care at a clinic or hospital.

Severe folliculitis and epidermal cysts that develop after treatment can affect the survival rate

later on if not treated properly, so it may be important to care for yourself while also visiting

a clinic or hospital regularly for follow-up care.

The procedure obviously requires technical skill, but postoperative care can have a significant

impact on the outcome. Even if the surgery itself went well and you are satisfied with it, you

still need to carefully check the precautions and follow-up care afterward. Before sedation

anesthesia, you must observe an 8-hour fast. Also, even if you chose the sleep-based option, if

you suddenly become unable to proceed because of later plans before the procedure, or if you do

not want to continue because of discomfort, you can choose local anesthesia, which allows you to

remain conscious while preventing hair transplantation pain only in the targeted area. If you have

additional questions, it is recommended that you visit the relevant institution in person and have

a detailed one-on-one consultation.