Do I need to cut my hair for a Hair Transplant?

Question

I'm a 38 year old woman interested in pursuing hair transplants along my hairline. Would I need to buzz my head to get the procedure?

Rahil B. Roopani, MD · Answer

Hello,
Hair transplants in the recipient area with either the FUE or FUT procedure should NOT require you to "buzz" or cut the hair you have in this region (ie. the hair on the top). The portion of the procedure where the sites are made and grafts are placed within the recipient region (areas of thinning/balding) can be placed without shaving/trimming the "native" (non-transplanted) hairs that surround these sites. Many clinics require this of patients so that the procedure can be completed more efficiently, however, this is not a prerequisite for surgery. For example, at our practice, we educate patients on this and take great consideration as to how they would like to conceal the fact that they underwent surgical hair restoration. As far as the donor region, the FUE procedure requires (most of the time) the patient to buzz/trim their hair on the sides and the back of the head to allow the physician to analyze the angle of exit of the hair follicle to appropriately obtain the graft. With FUT, only the strip of skin with optimal hair follicles that is to be removed needs to be buzzed/trimmed with clippers and the hair above and below that incision can remain normal length. This allows this normal length hair to conceal the sutures in the immediate post-operative period and further conceal the resulting, thin linear scar.

Christine M. Shaver, MD · Answer

Women should consider pursuing an FUT hair transplant so that minimal shaving is required. The thin band where the hair is shaved is easily hidden. With FUE, a large portion of the scalp is often shaved which results in significant volume loss. Often women would need to wait years to regrow their hair with FUE. With FUT, minimal shaving is needed, resulting in minimal volume change, and the coverage results are superior due to the higher graft quality of an FUT procedure. Nearly all my female patients will elect to use FUT for their hair transplants.

Sanusi Umar, MD · Answer

You won't need to buzz your head for the hair transplant procedure if you get the procedure done by a skilled practitioner who uses the Dr.UGraft Zeus system, specifically designed for long hair Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). This technique doesn't involve any shaving or trimming. By obtaining long-shafted grafts for implantation, you leave the procedure table with an immediate preview of the final results.

This approach minimizes downtime, as the long-shafted grafts reduce the visibility of scabbing and redness in the recipient area. Moreover, the donor area remains untouched, further decreasing downtime. The Dr.UGraft Zeus system incorporates intuitive punch technologies for long-hair FUE.

Long-hair FUE is especially suitable for individuals seeking discretion in their hair transplant journey, allowing you to return to your normal activities without noticeable changes.

Jigar Sitapara, MD · Answer

Good morning from Washington DC!
This is a great question and wrongfully scares many women away from getting a transplant that would benefit them. For the majority of women who keep their hair longer, my recommendation is to get an FUT hair transplant. This is where a strip is removed from the back of the scalp and the skin edges are meticulously closed together. On the day of transplant, I only shave that strip of hair that is removed. The rest of the hair is left long so that right after closure is complete, we flip your longer hair over that incision. The back of your scalp literally will look the same before and after the procedure on the same day. For your hairline procedure, I do not need to shave the rest of your scalp. 
I hope this helps! Wishing you all the best,Dr. SitaparaChevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgery

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

It's not always required to shave your head for a hair transplant. Depending on the severity and areas being treated. Consult with your dermatologist. Best, Dr. Emer

Jonathan Huber, MD · Answer

Whether or not you would need to shave, cut, or trim any of your hair depends on the type of surgery that's best suited for you and the number of grafts needed. 
In the case of an FUT/strip procedure, your head would not need to be buzzed. If the necessary extractions are done by the FUE method, this might require shaving anywhere from small, concealed portions of your donor area to larger portions that are difficult, or cannot be, concealed depending on the number of grafts needed.
For this reason, many women opt for the FUT/strip method. However, there are cases where FUE is suitable. Talk to your surgeon about what's needed to achieve your desired outcome and the options to get there.

Arslan Musbeh, MD · Answer

We always recommend to our patients not to shave for al least 15 days before the hair transplant surgery. This will be more helpful the surgery day to assess the density on each zone better during the onsultation in person.

Sait Gokhan Bircan, MD. · Answer

Hello,
With women patients it is better to prefer the DHI technique to not damage your existing hair and implant the grafts between those hairs. It is not necessary to shave everything off with this technique and there is only the need to shave a part of the back of your head to extract the necessary grafts.

Epameinondas Bonaros, MD · Answer

Neither the FUE nor FUT techniques require patients to shave their heads for a hair transplant. It all depends on your surgeon's experience and preference.

Ilhan Serdaroglu, MD · Answer

It is better to see your photos  in order to understand the problem you have, treatment methods and/or estimate how much graft do we need to cover area .

Do I need to cut my hair for a Hair Transplant?

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