The specialist hair transplant team at KSL Clinic often speak with patients concerned about the pain levels they might anticipate during a hair transplant and recovery. In reality, any surgical procedure has the potential for some discomfort, but the right professional aftercare and recovery therapies ensure any soreness or pain is kept to an absolute minimum.
Many patients tell us that the procedure is entirely comfortable, with quality anaesthetics, a calm, welcoming environment and talented surgeons and technicians who do everything possible to ensure your surgery is a positive experience.
Even patients who perceive themselves as having a very low pain threshold or who have felt anxious beforehand are put at ease, and the precision techniques used in our preferred Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) procedure ensure there are zero incisions, visible scars or stitches to worry about.
Key Takeaways
- Hair transplantation is a surgical procedure, but the use of high-grade anaesthetics, skilful, precise follicle extractions, and gentle reimplantation, combined with a relaxing, soothing setting, ensures your transplant is pain-free.
- KSL Clinic recommends a hair transplant process called Follicular Unit Extraction, which requires no stitches, incisions, or scarring. This procedure is a minimally invasive, low-discomfort solution to hair loss.
- Ongoing aftercare is essential to ensure your scalp remains protected and to minimise soreness or swelling post-hair transplant. Our skilled hair transplant surgeons provide complete aftercare support.
Hair Transplant Techniques and Varying Discomfort Levels
The first factor to consider when comparing hair transplant options is the type of technique your surgical team uses. The vast majority of people who have experienced pain during a hair transplant have opted for low-cost hair transplants, potentially performed overseas, where there is little guarantee of the standard of anaesthetic used or the degree to which this will keep any pain at bay.
KSL Clinic offers a range of minimally invasive hair transplant surgeries and treatments, where each follicle is extracted individually using an innovative tool with a diameter of just under one mm across.
This solution ensures that, unlike alternatives such as Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), where strips of tissue are removed, only one follicle at a time is extracted from the donor area and carefully positioned in the desired growth pattern in the treatment location.
Research has shown that FUE hair transplants result in:
- Lower pain post-transplant
- Faster postoperative healing
- Less scarring
The same study found that the lack of incisions or stitches can significantly expedite recovery time after your hair transplant, with donor sites beginning to heal within as little as a few days.
While both popular types of hair transplant should be pain-free during the procedure, assuming appropriate anaesthetics are administered, FUE transplantation ensures that pain and soreness during recovery are equally reduced.
Professional Pain Management During and After a Hair Transplant
During a hair transplant, we use a local anaesthetic, which is gently injected around the locations of your donor follicles and the transplant site. While injections can deliver a tiny pinch, we use superb-quality medical-grade supplies and take precautions to ensure each injection is quick and painless.
Once the anaesthetic has taken effect, you should feel no pain whatsoever as each follicle is extracted and reimplanted, with the microscopic incisions made by a Micro Punch tool. We ensure each client has full access to entertainment and music throughout, which we know can make the sensations similar to tugging or pulling you may experience less noticeable.
The aftercare we provide immediately following your transplant and recommend for the days afterwards may depend on the size of your hair transplant, the location of the treatment area, and the number of grafts necessary to complete a successful procedure.
As a rough guide, this could include:
- Drinking plenty of fluids and massaging the face to reduce swelling.
- Prescribing antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection
- Suggesting pain relief medication for a few days to combat any residual discomfort.
Before you leave our clinic, we also lightly apply medical-standard bandages to protect the new follicles and ensure your skin is not exposed to contaminants or toxins that could complicate recovery.
Some redness and swelling are completely normal, and your skin might feel tender after the anaesthetic wears off. However, sufficient bandaging and pain relief ensure that this is mild and does not interrupt your routine or sleep pattern.
Short and Long-Term Pain Following a Hair Transplant
As we’ve seen, during your hair transplant, you should experience no pain, and we can walk you through the administration of anaesthetic beforehand so you are comfortable and know exactly what to expect.
Pain and soreness during recovery should last a few days at most and can be well controlled by using the pain relief and medications listed previously.
While we prefer FUE hair transplantation due to the faster recovery and lack of need for large incisions or stitches, this technique is also beneficial during postoperative recuperation.
Studies show that FUE hair transplant candidates, in contrast to those undergoing alternative hair transplant procedures:
- Have ‘significantly less severe’ postoperative pain.
- Have minimal pain even one day after their transplant.
Longer-term, a hair transplant should not create any soreness or pain, and the only scenario in which this could occur is if your hair transplant has been performed to a low standard or without the level of diligence and hygiene controls we use across our clinics.
Our hair transplant surgeons and technicians are qualified, regulated clinical professionals registered with the General Medical Council. We follow stringent quality standards that apply to everything from the tools and medications we use to the cleanliness and hygiene of our treatment rooms and offices.
If you have any pain after a hair transplant that extends beyond the initial recovery time, we strongly suggest you contact your nearest KSL Clinic as a matter of urgency. Infections can become very serious indeed and may need immediate attention.
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Looking for a painless hair transplant? Book a free consultation with us today to see what we can do for you.
Hair Transplantation: A Pain Timeline
“We are always happy to discuss the levels of pain we might consider ‘normal’ post-hair transplant, and we appreciate that clients who experience nerves and anxiety or have had poor experiences in the past may require exact details of the anticipated soreness and how long it will last to help them prepare.”
Below is an indication of the typical pain reported by our valued clients undergoing any type of FUE hair transplant:
- Day One – Hair Transplant Day: Some minor, temporary ‘pinching’ at the site of the anaesthetic injection is more common for facial hair transplants or when the transplant location is very close to a sensitive nerve.
- During the Hair Transplant: The anaesthetic will remove any type of pain, with only minimal discomfort sometimes linked to sensations of pulling at the site of each microscopic follicle extraction.
- Post-Transplant Day One: As the anaesthetic wears off, some soreness can occur, which is relieved by cooling treatments, pain relief, and bandaging for the next few hours.
- Days Two to Three: Over the next two or three days, the donor sites heal rapidly, which can lead to itching or irritation as the skin recovers. We can recommend clinical creams and balms to soothe irritated skin. Some swelling may be residual but subsides after a maximum of six days – again, this is more likely for facial hair transplants.
From there, your hair transplant should not result in any soreness, pain or irritation. Your donor follicles will gradually begin to grow naturally, and although some initial shedding is normal, this is all part of the recovery process.
If you would like to discuss your hair transplant with one of our leading surgeons or arrange a private consultation at any KSL Clinic location, please get in touch. We can discuss the procedure, recovery, and pain relief options and ensure you have all the information you need to make clear decisions in your own time.
Hair Transplant Pain: Excerpts From Client Testimonials
As we’ve seen, the key to a successful, comfortable, and pain-free hair transplant is applying high-grade anaesthetics and relying on the skill and experience of your transplant surgeon both during the procedure and when following aftercare advice.
Our patient testimonials and celebrity stories are a testament to our focus on client comfort and ensuring a smooth experience.
Ryan Cleary, reality TV star and influencer who underwent an FUE hair transplant, says, ‘Everyone was so welcoming and made me feel comfortable the moment I walked in. I watched Netflix and a couple of films – it was a really chilled day,’
Sky Sports Presenter Rob Wotton mimics those comments, noting, ‘I’m feeling great; I think I’ve completed Netflix – watching that all day was great! The guys were fantastic; they looked after me very well.’
Entertainment is all part of the service, and we recognise that watching a favourite series or an immersive movie is a great way to put clients at ease and form a distraction, ensuring the time taken to complete your precision hair transplant flies by with zero pain.
Hair Transplantation Pain: Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does a Hair Transplant Hurt?
Hair transplantation is a surgical procedure; some swelling, redness and soreness are normal. However, the transplant itself should be entirely pain-free, aside from the initial injections of anaesthetic – you will not experience any pain at any time during the transplant.
After your hair transplant, you may feel some soreness, but this is well managed with pain relief, soothing medical creams, and bandaging during the initial recovery.
What Can I Do to Minimise Pain During a Hair Transplant?
During your hair transplant, we’ll manage the administration of anaesthetic and can address concerns at any point.
Following your transplant, it is important you follow the aftercare guidance given closely, including applying any medications, creams, or medicated shampoos we feel will assist with a speedy recovery.
For example, you will need to refrain from using cosmetic shampoos for a few days. You should avoid activities that could destabilise the newly implanted follicles, such as swimming or intensive exercise.
How Safe is a Hair Transplant?
Hair transplants performed in clinical environments with the right facilities, equipment and techniques are entirely safe.
Our highly experienced, accredited surgeons are registered with the General Medical Council and place great emphasis on client safety. We use cutting-edge surgical techniques and the highest-quality anaesthetics, aftercare, and treatments to ensure your results exceed your expectations.
As always, we suggest meeting with one of our accomplished hair transplant surgeons in person to set your mind at ease and review the state-of-the-art facilities on offer at the KSL Clinic network across the UK.
Should a Hair Transplant Feel Painful Two or Three Weeks Later?
No – a minimally invasive FUE hair transplant causes very little trauma or disturbance to your scalp or skin around the donor and implantation sites, and there should be no residual pain or soreness after a few days.
If you have any pain around the grafted follicles or the donor site, we suggest you contact your nearest clinic for professional advice. We often speak with patients who have received hair transplants in other locations, and pain that persists may be due to an infection or insufficient aftercare.
Urgent action is needed to ensure this does not put the results of your transplant or your overall health at risk.
Can I Do Anything to Speed Up the Healing Process After a Hair Transplant?
In addition to following the instructions provided and attending any follow-up reviews with your hair transplant surgeon, we might suggest supplementary therapies that can expedite the healing process and optimise the results of your hair transplant.
Therapies such as Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP) are highly popular and use your own healthy plasma cells, carefully extracted from your own blood, to stimulate cellular regrowth.
PRP is often delivered as a staggered series of treatments after a hair transplant. It is a scientifically backed procedure [3] that is known to stimulate inactive cells or help newly implanted follicles enter a growth phase faster.
You are welcome to contact us to learn more about PRP therapy, or can discuss this with your surgeon during your initial consultation.
