Do You Need General Anesthesia for a Hair Transplant?

A hair transplant is the proven, permanent solution to hair loss. Compared to other hair loss solutions, its results are unmatched – when performed by a licensed, trained medical professional, that is.

Many overseas hair transplant clinics employ unqualified personnel to perform hair transplants. As the World’s Most Experienced Hair Restoration Experts®, we’ve always been alarmed by certain overseas hair transplant practices – overharvesting, subdividing follicular grafts, unnatural hairlines, and so on.

But perhaps the most concerning overseas hair transplant practice is the overuse of general anesthesia. Many overseas clinics put patients “to sleep” under general anesthesia for the duration of their hair restoration procedure. This introduces serious medical risk that’s entirely unnecessary if you receive your hair transplant from a qualified medical professional.

Learn more about the risks of getting general anesthesia during a hair transplant and hair transplant anesthesia best practices.

Do Hair Transplants Require General Anesthesia?

No, hair transplants do not require general anesthesia. General anesthesia produces a sleep-like state, making the patient unconscious, unaware of their surroundings, and unable to feel pain. It’s typically reserved for major surgical procedures like heart surgery, back surgery, and organ transplants. A hair transplant is a minimally invasive procedure that does not call for general anesthesia.

However, many overseas clinics put hair transplant patients under general anesthesia for the duration of their procedure, against best practices. 

Risks of General Anesthesia

General anesthesia can come at a significant risk to any patient undergoing a surgical procedure.

Common side effects include:

• Back or muscle pain
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sore throat
• Shivering
• Blurry vision
• Dizziness
• Headache

Rare but possible side effects include:

• Postoperative cognitive dysfunction
• Heart attack or stroke
• Respiratory complications
• Nerve damage
• Collapsed lung
• Death

While serious side effects of general anesthesia are rare, it’s a good idea to avoid general anesthesia unless medically necessary. General anesthesia during a hair transplant is not at all medically necessary and may leave a patient vulnerable to side effects and unfavorable outcomes.

Local vs General Anesthesia

General anesthesia produces a sleep-like, painless state throughout the entire body. Local anesthesia numbs a specific area of the body, allowing a patient to remain awake. It’s typically used for minor procedures and involves fewer risk of side effects than general anesthesia.

Hair Transplant Anesthesia Best Practices

When performed by a reputable clinic, a hair transplant is usually carried out under local anesthesia and sedation. This makes it so patients don’t feel any pain during the procedure, but remain awake and avoid the well-known risks of general anesthesia.

To minimize risk and ensure comfortable treatment, look for a clinic that provides the following:

• Local (not general) anesthesia on the scalp
• Sedation, typically nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”)
• One-day procedures, so local anesthesia is administered just once
• Pain and/or anti-inflammatory medication prescriptions, to relieve post-procedure pain and discomfort
• Post-op aftercare

At Bosley, we use local anesthesia on the scalp to numb the area and temporarily block pain signals. We also offer nitrous laughing gas to help patients feel relaxed and comfortable during their one-day treatment, and send all patients home with an appropriate prescription to manage symptoms. Along with the Bosley Guarantee, we offer free post-op aftercare for life.

Looking for a safe, reputable hair restoration clinic near you? Book a free hair loss consultation here.