Anesthesia Techniques for Harvesting Via Follicular Unit Excision (FUE)

Follicular Unit Excision (FUE), a technique for harvesting donor hair for hair transplantation, is typically performed using local anesthesia, often combined with light oral sedation for patient comfort. Common techniques for scalp anesthesia include "ring block" and nerve blocks, with the former being the preferred method for FUE donor harvesting due to its simplicity, effective pain control, and safety. Nerve blocks are reserved for patients who cannot be adequately anesthetized with the ring block. Proper application of local anesthesia can significantly reduce associated pain, enhancing the patient's experience.