Q: Does Hair Restoration Surgery Hurt?

A lot of people are curious about whether or not hair restoration surgery is painful.  Personally, I was surprised at how “pain-free” the entire process was. During the surgery itself, there were ample anesthetics (and pain killers) available, so there was very little pain involved. What I experienced was a little discomfort towards the end of the day (caused by being in the chair for several hours). During the procedure there was also some occasional soreness around the suture line where they took the donor tissue – when it would start to hurt, I would ask for more anesthetic in that area. They have to deliver several shots of anesthetic along the suture line – and this was a bit uncomfortable. Of course, once the anesthetic kicked in, it all felt fine.

Truth be told, I was a litlte bit concerned about any sort of pain during my procedure. whether sharp, stinging, cutting or poking.  But there really was no pain.  Occasional discomfort - Yes. Pain - Absolutely not.

After the surgery, there was still no pain. The suture line continued to be a little bit sore and tender. I felt it most at night when trying to go to sleep. Pain relievers (those given to me by the doctor, then just basic Tylenol) took care of the problem, but right when I woke up, and sometimes during the night, I would find the suture area was sore. Once the suture was removed (10 days after the procedure), there was no more soreness – although it continued to be tender for another couple of weeks. Nothing major, I just had to be careful when scratching the back of my head or combing my hair.

Which leads me to the main sensation I’ve had throughout the entire process – itching. Really, if I had to choose one word that describes what you feel during and after a hair restoration surgery, it’s itching. The few days immediately following the procedure were the worst – but I was able to put a cold compress on my head, which helped a lot. Then, I found the itchiness subsided for a while, until the follicles began to really take root and the new hair started to grow. Now I’m feeling itchiness as more and more new hair is sprouting on my scalp – although it’s much milder than what I experienced after the surgery. And, of course, I can touch the top of my head and scratch my scalp – actions I couldn’t take immediately after the procedure. I still try to be gentle, as I don’t want to damage any of the new “vellus” hairs as they grow in.

So in my experience, I have to say there was a surprising lack of pain involved. But if you’re considering hair restoration, be prepared for an itchy scalp.

Here's a picture of myself during the Bosley procedure - watching a movie and occasionally dosing off.