title: Local anesthesia in hair transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Safe and effective use of local anesthesia is essential in hair transplantation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review the agents and techniques of local anesthesia as applied to hair transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Information was retrieved from texts, journal articles found by MEDLINE searches, and related references.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Agents, vasoconstrictors, maximum dosages, toxicity, and techniques are discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Effective local anesthesia can be maintained throughout hair transplantation. Care must be exercised to minimize discomfort through proper technique and to minimize toxicity through judicious use of vasoconstrictors and nerve blocks and by monitoring total dosage. Constant monitoring for toxicity is required, as is early intervention in the unlikely event that warning signs should appear.
authors.affiliation: Seager Hair Transplant Center, Centenary Health Center, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: David Julian
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Seager
authors.forename: Cam
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simmons
mesh_terms: D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000379:methods; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000009:adverse effects; D006197:Hair / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local