Is general anesthesia needed during a hair transplant surgery?
Patients sometimes ask us at Leonard Hair Transplant Associates if they can be “put under” for their hair transplant. The answer is a resounding, “No”. General anesthesia can be a significant risk to any patient undergoing a surgical procedure. It definitely would be overkill for what we do.
With hair restoration surgery, we are performing a minor surgery of the skin, which requires only a local anesthetic, which is very safe and effective. After the initial injections, the patient does not experience any pain or discomfort.
Our patients are wide-awake during their procedures, typically watching a movie throughout the transplant. Being awake is great for both the patients and for our staff to really get to know one another. This exemplifies where the art of medicine and camaraderie among people comes through in the scientific practice of medicine.
Dr. Robert Leonard
Founder