Q48 How are anesthesia and pain managed during a hair transplant?

First, topical anesthesia is applied to the surgical area and puncture sites to reduce sharp needle pain. Second, relevant scalp nerves, such as the supraorbital, supratrochlear, auriculotemporal, greater occipital and lesser occipital nerves, are located under ultrasound and blocked to cover their territories. Third, local infiltration anesthesia is added by surgical area, with further doses based on your real-time feedback. Dr. Wu Kaiyu's team develops the plan. Registered doctors administer and supplement anesthesia and record it in the surgical record.

Nusbaum BP, Am J Clin Dermatol. 2004;5(1):9–15 (PMID 14979739), identifies anesthetic choice, infiltration technique, regional and nerve blocks, and timely repeat dosing as core pain-reduction methods. Teymourian H et al., Agri. 2025;37(4):191–200 (PMID 41042039), compared ultrasound-guided and landmark-guided scalp blocks in 50 craniotomy patients. Overall success rates were 72% and 24%, respectively; neither group had observed complications. These were craniotomy patients, not hair-transplant patients. We use the study as indirect support for technical feasibility and localization accuracy, not as evidence of pain outcomes in hair transplantation.

First, ultrasound may improve localization but does not eliminate pain; injections still hurt. Second, blocks may be incomplete and require supplementary infiltration. Third, risks include allergy, systemic local-anesthetic toxicity, hematoma and temporary sensory disturbances. Fourth, pain scores vary widely; we do not promise a sensation-free operation and do not perform surgery without anesthesia.

Ask specifically about pain management during your consultation and confirm the anesthesia method in the consent documents. Report any discomfort to your doctor during surgery.