Do You Have to Transfer Data after New SSD Install?

I have an old MacBook Pro (mid-2010 version 7,1) that I want to upgrade with a new SSD. I do not have much currently on the computer and I have already downloaded some old documents to a flash drive in case I need them later. I therefore do not plan on needing anything transferred over from the old hard drive. Can I just install the new SSD and get the OS from the standard internet recovery method and then start using the computer? Or do I have to transfer over data from the old drive?