Scalp micropigmentation has become an extremely popular hair loss treatment in recent years. More commonly referred to as SMP, it involves tattooing thousands of tiny pigments into the scalp to create a natural looking result.
As it is a type of tattoo procedure and it involves the use of a needle, one of the most pressing questions patients have before they undergo the procedure is whether it will hurt. So, does SMP hurt and what should you expect?
Is it painful?
While most patients don’t find SMP to be overly painful, there is some level of pain and discomfort felt during the procedure. However, everybody has different pain thresholds. What one patient may find painful, another may find slightly uncomfortable. So, your experience will depend very much upon your own pain levels.
On the whole, the majority of people who undergo SMP rate the level of pain between 3-5 on a scale of 1-10. So, while it may be unpleasant, you shouldn’t experience a high level of pain.
As with general tattooing, there are areas of the scalp that are a little more painful than others to treat. These typically include the temples and the skin just above the ears.
Is the pain avoidable?
If you are concerned about the potential pain involved with SMP, you can ask your doctor for a prescription pain reliever. The most popular one recommended by SMP practitioners is Percocet. If you have a particularly low pain threshold however, you may want to give Vicodin a try.
Be aware that if you do decide to take a pain reliever before the procedure, you should arrange for somebody else to pick you up, rather than trying to drive yourself.
Overall, scalp micropigmentation can hurt, but the pain is usually very mild. Some patients require a little break before the procedure is continued, while others find it easy to just read a book while the session is carried out. Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor for a prescribed pain reliever if you are concerned about the discomfort.
