IHTC · Tijuana Hair Transplant
An honest answer — what you feel during the procedure and during recovery.
Most patients describe the combined FUE+DHI procedure as uncomfortable but not painful. Local anesthesia is used throughout, so the scalp is numb for the vast majority of the session. The anesthesia injection is the most uncomfortable part for most people — a brief stinging sensation that resolves within seconds as the numbing takes effect. Once you are numb, you feel pressure and movement, but not pain.
Fear of pain is one of the top reasons people delay hair restoration surgery. At International Hair Transplant Clinic (IHTC) in Tijuana, Dr. Erik Yáñez and the clinical team hear this concern from nearly every patient who walks through the door. This page gives you an honest, stage-by-stage account of what you can actually expect to feel — before, during, and after your procedure — so you can make an informed decision without fear or surprises.
Local anesthesia (lidocaine) is administered to both the donor area and the recipient area before any extraction or implantation begins. Dr. Yáñez uses a fine-gauge needle technique to minimize discomfort during injection. Here is how it works, step by step:
The first injections numb the donor zone where follicles will be extracted using the FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) technique. This is the area most patients describe as the "pinch" moment. Dr. Yáñez uses a series of very fine injections spaced a few centimetres apart. Each one produces a brief sting — roughly 1–2 seconds — before the lidocaine begins working. Within 3–5 minutes, the entire donor area is fully numb and you feel nothing sharp at all.
Once extraction begins, the recipient zone is similarly numbed with lidocaine injections before the DHI (Direct Hair Implantation) phase starts. The recipient area is typically less sensitive than the donor zone for most patients, so many describe this round of injections as milder than the first.
Lidocaine wears off gradually over the course of the 6–8 hour session. Dr. Yáñez or the clinical nurse will administer small top-up doses as needed to keep you fully numb throughout. You simply say "I'm starting to feel something" and a top-up is given immediately. Most patients need one or two top-ups during the full session.
The combined FUE+DHI procedure at IHTC is divided into two phases. Here is what most patients report feeling at each stage once the anesthesia has taken full effect.
During follicular unit extraction, a micro-punch device scores and removes individual follicle groups from the donor zone. With the scalp fully numb, the cutting sensation is completely absent. What you typically feel is mild pressure, a faint pulling or tugging as grafts are separated, and the sensation of the clinical team working methodically across the area. Most patients find this phase easy to tolerate and many doze through it.
In the DHI phase, Dr. Yáñez uses the Choi Implanter Pen to place each follicle directly into the recipient zone without first cutting open channels — a key advantage of the combined FUE+DHI technique. The Choi Pen creates a small, precise entry point as it implants. Because the recipient area is fully anesthetized, most patients feel only light pressure or an occasional gentle push. This phase is generally even more comfortable than the extraction phase for most patients.
Once numb, the procedure becomes largely a waiting exercise. IHTC provides a comfortable reclining chair, pillows, and headphones. Patients watch movies, listen to music, catch up on podcasts, or simply sleep. Short breaks are given between phases. You can eat, use the restroom, and communicate with the team at any point. The day is long but the vast majority of patients are genuinely surprised by how comfortable it is compared to what they expected.
Once the local anesthesia wears off — usually 4–6 hours after the procedure ends — mild to moderate soreness sets in. Here is an honest timeline of what most patients report.
The donor area (back and sides of the scalp) is the most tender zone in the first 72 hours. Patients typically describe it as a soreness similar to a mild sunburn or the feeling after a mild scalp scrape — unpleasant but manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen. The recipient area (top of the scalp) tends to feel tight and tender rather than sharply painful. Sleep with your head elevated at 45° to reduce swelling. IHTC's take-home care kit includes guidance on pain management for this phase.
By days 4–7 the sharp soreness has usually resolved, but many patients enter a period of itching as small scabs or crusts form around each implanted follicle. This itching can feel intense but scratching must be avoided — it can dislodge grafts that are still anchoring. Most patients describe week 1 as "annoying, not painful." A light saline spray provided in the IHTC care kit helps soothe the itch. The scabs will fall away naturally during gentle washing — do not pick or rub them.
For the vast majority of patients, any meaningful discomfort is fully gone by the end of week 2. The donor area has healed, scabs in the recipient zone have cleared, and the scalp feels normal again. Some patients experience occasional mild scalp sensitivity over the following weeks as nerves regenerate — this is normal and resolves on its own. From this point forward, the journey is about patience as the transplanted follicles cycle through their growth phases over the coming months.
No pain scale is universal — individual sensitivity varies. But here is the honest range that IHTC patients consistently describe when asked at follow-up. Zero means no sensation and 10 means the worst pain imaginable.
Ratings reflect patient self-reports at follow-up consultations. Individual experience varies. These scores assume standard local anesthesia without sedation.
For patients with high anxiety about the procedure, IHTC offers an oral sedation option. Here is what you need to know.
IHTC offers oral sedation or anti-anxiety medication (anxiolytic) during the procedure for patients who request it. This does not replace the local anesthesia — the scalp is still fully numbed — but the medication reduces anxiety, promotes relaxation, and can make the overall experience feel shorter and calmer. Many patients who initially request sedation find that once the anesthesia is in place and they realize how comfortable the procedure actually is, they would not have needed it.
Most patients at IHTC do not require sedation and manage the procedure comfortably with local anesthesia alone. However, the option is available to anyone who wants it — there is no judgment, and your comfort is the priority. If you are interested in this option, simply mention it during your free consultation with Dr. Erik Yáñez and the team will make arrangements.
Note: oral sedation requires that you arrange transportation home, as you should not drive after taking an anxiolytic medication.
Questions we hear most often about pain and comfort during a hair transplant at IHTC.
Most patients describe a hair transplant as uncomfortable but not painful. Local anesthesia is administered before any extraction or implantation begins, so the scalp is numb for the vast majority of the procedure. The anesthesia injection itself is the most uncomfortable moment for most people — a brief stinging or burning sensation that resolves within seconds as the numbing takes effect. Once numb, patients feel pressure and movement but not sharp pain.
The anesthesia injection is consistently ranked as the most uncomfortable part. Dr. Erik Yáñez uses a fine-gauge needle technique to minimize discomfort during injection. Many patients rate this phase 3–5 out of 10 on a pain scale. After the numbing takes effect, discomfort typically drops to 1–2 out of 10 for the remainder of the procedure. The first night post-op can also bring mild to moderate soreness in the donor area as the anesthesia fully wears off.
Yes. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (paracetamol) are generally safe and effective for post-procedure soreness. IHTC provides a take-home care kit with guidance on pain management. Avoid aspirin and ibuprofen in the first few days as they can thin the blood and increase the risk of minor bleeding. Your IHTC team will give you specific instructions at discharge.
Most soreness resolves within the first week. The donor area is typically tender for days 1–3, with noticeable improvement by day 4. The recipient zone may feel tight and tender during the first few days. By the end of week 1, the majority of patients are comfortable and not relying on pain medication. Mild itching during weeks 1–2 is common as scabs form and heal — this is annoying rather than painful, and scratching should be avoided.
Because the scalp is fully numb, most patients are comfortable enough to watch movies, listen to music, catch up on podcasts, or even doze off. IHTC provides a comfortable reclining chair and pillows. The procedure is divided into two phases — extraction (FUE) and implantation (DHI with the Choi Implanter Pen) — with short breaks between stages. Patients can take bathroom breaks and eat a light meal. Many describe the experience as similar to sitting through a long film.
Continue your research with these pages from International Hair Transplant Clinic.
Schedule a free consultation with Dr. Erik Yáñez at International Hair Transplant Clinic (IHTC). Get honest answers about the procedure, anesthesia, and what your results could look like — with no pressure and no obligation. See the homepage at tijuanahair.com for the current offer.