Making a hair transplant via FUE without shaving the head will be less effective?

Question

If I wanted to get hair transplant, just the hairline and some spots that ended up shedding due to stress, without shaving this areas before the transplant, will the doctor be able to make the procedure as better as if I had shaved my head?

Marco Barusco, MD · Answer

Hello,

Yes, a hair transplant can be performed without shaving the recipient area, especially for targeted spots like the hairline or areas affected by stress shedding. While shaving can provide better visibility and precision during the procedure, an experienced surgeon can still achieve excellent results with careful planning and technique in a No-Shave FUE procedure. Be sure to discuss your goals and expectations with your doctor to ensure the best possible outcome.

Best regards,
Dr. Marco Barusco

Amir Yazdan, MD · Answer

Hello, thanks for your question. Based on my experience in some cases patients will have a slightly better outcome if they shave their head or the recipient area. Shaving the recipient area can make it easier for the surgeon to see and access the scalp, allowing for more precise placement of the recipient sites. Additionally, unshaven hair can sometimes make it a little more time consuming during the placements of the grafts. However, experienced surgeons are skilled in managing these situations and should be able to still achieve desirable results. At my practice, Modena Hair Institute in Newport Beach, CA it is not required for patients to shave their head because some choose to not tell anyone they are having a procedure done, therefore looking as normal as possible and being able to hide the procedure takes precedence. With that being said, I still perform my due diligence of letting certain patients know whether or not the outcome would be slightly better if they were to shave their head. Hope this helps answer your question.

If you would like to discuss your question further or want more information please do not hesitate to reach out to us at info@modenahair.com

If you would like to discuss your question further or want more information please do not hesitate to reach out to us at info@modenahair.com

Suleyman Tas, MD, FEBOPRAS · Answer

Dear Bleu de Chanel,

Thank you for your question. In practice, one can cater to both female and male patients seeking successful hair transplant results. For female patients, we offer a specialized approach, allowing us to achieve positive outcomes without the necessity of shaving the entire hair. Instead, we focus on a smaller window at the back of head to harvest the grafts.

For male patients who are not keen to shave their entire head, a similar procedure can be performed. It's essential to note that regardless of gender, if a patient opts to shave their entire head, the potential for achieving denser hair results is notably increased compared to non-shaving alternatives. You may visit the link to see possible results of unshaven and shaven techniques.

Best regards,
TAS TEAM

John Diep, MD · Answer

For the best FUE hair transplant result, its best to shave the donor and the recipient area. The three benefit of shaving the recipient area are 1) less damage to the native leading to less shock loss 2) the surgeon can see the bald area better, leading fill more bald area and not missing a spot 3) less difficult for the placer to put the hair grafts into the recipient sites which will lead to better hair roots survival. In term of the donor area, you have to shave in order to see the hair angle better, leading to more efficient harvesting. If you don't shave the donor, then you are punching the hair blindly, leading to more transection of the grafts. In conclusion, I recommend to shave both the donor and recipient site for the FUE hair transplant surgery.

Arslan Musbeh, MD · Answer

In my professional opinion, based on more than 17 years of surgical experience, unshaven (No-Shave) FUE is not always the most reliable option for achieving optimal and consistent results.

Although technically possible, this method has certain limitations and drawbacks. During an unshaven FUE, the surgeon must extract and implant grafts through longer surrounding hairs, which reduces visibility and precision. This can increase the risk of damaging existing hairs or misplacing grafts.

Moreover, since the transplanted hairs will shed within a few weeks and regrow later, the cosmetic advantage of keeping long hair during surgery is only temporary. For these reasons, I generally recommend partial shaving or full shaving of the donor area, which allows for better control, cleaner implantation, and healthier long-term growth.

Dr. Arslan Musbeh
Hair Transplant Surgeon – Founder of Hairmedico
17+ years of experience in FUE, Sapphire FUE, and DHI

This answer has been approved by Dr. Arslan Musbeh. It is not a medical advice.

John Peter Cole, MD · Answer

Most physicians do not perform excellent hair transplant work, especially on the hairline. If you have a great surgeon skilled in a no-shave procedure and FUE, you can get a fantastic result from a hair transplant. There are not many great quarterbacks in the NFL, even though training to become a quarterback has extensive training. Be very cautious of believing sites that endorse some physicians. Most of these doctors are not good enough to build a practice independently. Make sure you research the physicians in detail before getting your hair restored. You can end up in far worse shape from a transplant if you choose an average surgeon.

Matt Tahsini, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question.  If it has been determined you are a good candidate for a FUE procedure it will not be less effective if the area is unshaven.  Best of luck to you.
Dr. T

Kulakarn Amonpattana, MD · Answer

Dear Nathan Bleu de Chanel,
Hello I'm Dr. Wipawan Vathananai, a co-worker of Dr. Kulakarn Amonpattana, from BHI Clinic, Bangkok, Thailand. 
Regarding your concern, it is possible to do the hair transplant without having the recipient area being shaved. However, it will take more time during the graft insertion.
Best regards,Wipawan Vathananai MD

Sara Salas, MD · Answer

With long or short hair FUE, the result is going to be the same, the only difference is the way we extracted, of course will take double the time because the hair is on the way but if you use your hair long you don't need to shave your scalp.

Berta M. Rubio, MD · Answer

The small strip shaven before a transplant is required to extract each individual follicle . This is imperative unless the patient is under going a surgical strip technique. The hairs in the donor area need to be cut very short but the recipient area is not shaven at my clinic.

Making a hair transplant via FUE without shaving the head will be less effective?

Answers (14)

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