Does it hurt to install a cochlear implant?

Cochlear implants are generally painless, but there may be mild discomfort after the anesthetic fails.

Before cochlear implants are installed, patients usually receive local anesthesia, which helps reduce pain during surgery. Local anesthesia is usually injected around the surgical site to temporarily paralyze the nerves in that area, thus preventing pain signals from being transmitted to the brain. However, after the surgery, the anesthetic will lose its effect over time and the patient may feel slight discomfort.