Is Hair Transplantation Painful?

Is Hair Transplantation Painful? All Facts About Modern Anesthesia Methods and Pain Management

For millions of men and women experiencing hair loss, hair transplantation is the most effective way to regain self-confidence. However, there is a huge psychological barrier preventing them from entering the clinic door: “Fear of Pain” (Trypanophobia). Studies show that 80% of people who consider having a hair transplant but give up do so not because they fear the result will fail, but because they fear getting hurt during the operation. Stories of “bloody and painful operations” based on the old technologies of the 90s have unfortunately survived to the present day as urban legends.

However, as of 2025, hair transplantation is now a “minimally invasive” and high-comfort-oriented procedure. As the Görkem Kazan Hair Transplant clinic, in this article, we debunk the fear of pain with scientific facts; we explain needle-free anesthesia technologies, the comfort of sedation, and exactly what you will feel during every minute of the operation with full transparency.

To understand this process correctly, it is necessary to examine the operation not as a whole, but by dividing it into phases. The sensation of pain or discomfort is limited only to the “preparation” stage, which covers the first 10-15 minutes of the 6-8 hour operation. For the rest of the process, the only thing you will feel is the comfort of the chair and the sound of the movie you are watching.

1. Physiology of Pain: Why Are We Afraid?

The scalp is a region very rich in nerve endings. Therefore, the thought that interventions on the scalp will be painful is not biologically baseless. However, modern medicine has mastered blocking pain signals from reaching the brain. The local anesthesia used in hair transplantation temporarily blocks the sodium channels of nerve cells, completely stopping the transmission of pain. In other words, you feel touch and pressure during the procedure (because these are transmitted by different nerve fibers), but you never feel the sharp sensation defined as “pain.”

2. What is Local Anesthesia? How is it Applied?

Hair transplantation is a procedure where the patient is conscious, not requiring general anesthesia (being completely knocked out). Only the donor area (nape) and the recipient area (transplant site) are numbed. In the traditional method, this process is done with fine-tipped insulin needles. The part patients define as “pain” is the burning sensation the moment the drug enters under the tissue. This burning sensation is caused by the pH value of the anesthetic substance being different from body tissue and lasts only a few seconds. However, thanks to the advanced techniques we apply in our clinic, even this minimal discomfort can be eliminated.

3. The Peak of Comfort: Needle-Free (Pressure) Anesthesia Technology

Developed for patients with needle phobia or a low pain threshold, Needle-Free Anesthesia (Jet Injection) technology has created a revolution in hair transplantation. These devices, known as “Dermojet” or “Comfort-in,” make it possible to administer anesthesia without using a metal needle tip. So, how does this work?

• Physics at Work: The piston inside the device pushes the anesthetic liquid with very high pressure (approximately 120 bar).
• Microscopic Entry: The liquid passes through an opening much smaller than a needle hole (at the micron level) on the skin and spreads under the skin (subcutaneous tissue) in as short a time as a tenth of a second.
• Zero Needle Pain: Since the skin integrity is not pierced with a metal needle, no “pricking” pain is felt. The patient only feels instantaneous pressure, like a rubber band lightly snapping against their skin.
• Homogeneous Distribution: The drug administered with pressure spreads to a wider area and more homogeneously under the tissue, which ensures that numbness occurs faster and more effectively.

4. Sedation: A “Dreamlike” Beginning

If even needle-free anesthesia does not relax you or if you think you cannot cope with the stress of the operation, Sedated Hair Transplantation is the ideal solution for you. Sedation is the induction of a state of deep relaxation and sleep in the patient with drugs administered intravenously by an anesthesiologist.

What is the Difference Between Sedation and General Anesthesia?

In general anesthesia, the patient is completely unconscious and connected to a breathing apparatus. In sedation:

• You breathe on your own; you are not connected to a machine.
• Your reflexes are preserved, but your consciousness is in a “twilight” state.
• You feel no pain during the procedure, and most importantly, you do not remember the procedure when you wake up (amnesia effect).

How Does the Process Work? Sedation is applied just before the operation begins. You fall into a sweet sleep for 10-15 minutes. During this time, our team completes all local anesthesia procedures on your scalp. When you wake up, your head is completely numb, and you ask, “Is the operation over?” whereas the operation has just begun. With this method, a “zero pain” guarantee is given. Data from the National Library of Medicine (NCBI) confirms that anxiety levels drop to zero and satisfaction rates increase dramatically in patients who undergo sedation.

5. What is Felt During the Operation? (6-8 Hour Process)

After the anesthesia phase is over (whether needle-free or sedated), the sensation of pain completely disappears for the remaining 98% of the operation. The scalp retains its sensitivity to touch (tactile sense) but is insensitive to pain (nociception). In other words:

• You feel the surgeon touching your head, opening channels, or harvesting grafts.
• You may hear a “crunching” sound similar to walking on snow in your ear (during the extraction of roots).
• However, none of these hurt. Many of our patients sleep, watch Netflix, read books, or spend time on their phones during this process.

6. Post-Operation Process: Will There Be Pain?

Approximately 8-10 hours after the operation, the effect of the anesthesia begins to slowly wear off. The subject patients are most curious about during this period is “Will I have a lot of pain when the numbness wears off?”

The First Night (Critical 24 Hours)

As the numbness wears off, a slight burning, tightness, or throbbing may be felt, especially in the donor area (nape). This pain is not a throbbing or unbearable pain like a toothache. It is more like a “skin sensitivity” sensation, as if you stayed in the sun too long. Standard painkillers (Paracetamol group) prescribed by your doctor are sufficient to completely eliminate this sensation. 90% of patients use painkillers only on the first night after the operation and do not need them from the second day onwards.

Tumescent Fluid Effect

The special fluid (tumescent) injected under the skin during the operation not only provides anesthesia but also constricts blood vessels to stop bleeding and reduces pain that may occur after the operation. Thanks to the effect of this fluid, the post-operative period passes quite comfortably.

7. Scientific Data and Safety

The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) evaluates hair transplantation in the category of “minimally invasive surgery” and states that patient comfort is at the highest level when correct anesthesia protocols are applied. Pain is usually caused by incorrect anesthesia application by inexperienced teams or failure to adjust the pH balance of the fluid.

Conclusion: Are You Ready for a Comfortable Change?

In summary; in the technology of 2025, hair transplantation is a much more comfortable process than getting a dental filling. Thanks to needle-free anesthesia and sedation options, the “pain” factor has been completely removed from the equation. Do not experience the unhappiness you feel every day when you look in the mirror any longer due to fear of pain. It is possible to achieve the hair of your dreams with a dreamlike operation.

You can contact us to determine the anesthesia method most suitable for your pain threshold and to get more detailed information about our operation process. Our experts are ready to listen to your concerns and offer you the most comfortable experience.