Hair loss is a problem that many people experience; however, many individuals avoided getting a hair transplant because their hair would have to be completely shaved. Due to social status and aesthetic concerns, they stayed away from this procedure. However, unshaven hair transplantation has largely addressed these individuals’ concerns. In this article, detailed information will be provided on how hair transplantation can be performed without shaving the hair.
First of all, it should be noted that this method is not very new. Since the moment Dr. Hakan Doğanay started using the DHI method in 2010, he has performed many of his operations using the unshaven technique. You can verify this by checking the publication date of the YouTube video we have linked. However, at that time, many clinics in Turkey had not even heard of this technique. If you search for “unshaven hair transplant before: 2011” in quotation marks in the YouTube search bar, you will better understand what we mean. Currently, one out of every 5 patients in our clinic undergoes hair transplantation using the unshaven method.

What is Unshaven Hair Transplant

Classical FUE hair transplantation is performed by completely shaving both the donor area and the recipient area. However, with the unshaven method, it is possible to perform this procedure without cutting all or some of the hair in the donor or recipient area. With the increased application of this method, the idea of hair transplantation has become quite attractive to individuals with aesthetic concerns. Now, let’s take a look at how this increasingly popular method is performed.

Who Is Suitable for Unshaven Hair Transplantation?

Many individuals who consult us for hair transplantation request this technique. However, unfortunately, this popular method is not suitable for everyone. Now, let’s explain who can undergo hair transplantation using the unshaven method in a step-by-step manner:

  1. Women: We can say unshaven hair transplantation is an excellent solution for women. With the development of this technique, women’s interest in hair transplantation has significantly increased.
  2. Men with Norwood 2-3 Hair Loss: Individuals who require a relatively low number of grafts, around 2000, can undergo transplantation without shaving their hair. For those requiring a higher number of grafts, performing this procedure in a single session is not suitable. However, additional sessions can be performed at one-year intervals with a lower number of grafts, eventually reaching the targeted graft count.
  3. Eyebrow Transplantation: Since a low number of grafts is required, the unshaven method is an excellent option for those considering eyebrow transplantation.
  4. Men Who Keep Their Nape Hair Long: If the donor area hair is 10 cm or longer, unshaven hair transplantation can be easily performed on these men.
  5. Hair Thickening: Whether for men or women, excellent results can be achieved by filling in sparse areas using an unshaven DHI combination. We do not recommend traditional FUE hair transplantation for hair thickening.
  6. Localized and Low-Graft Transplants: In cases of hair loss due to trauma, such as traffic accidents or burns, the transplant area is usually small. Therefore, the required number of grafts will also be low.
  7. Crown Area Transplants: There is no need to shave the frontal area that is not being transplanted.
  8. Transplants Performed with the DHI Method: Unshaven hair transplantation has become almost synonymous with the DHI method.

The individuals in the group mentioned above fall under our eligibility criteria. So, why do people prefer shaveless hair transplantation? Here are the reasons for this preference:

  • Those who do not want the hair transplant to be noticed and want to keep it discreet.
  • Businessmen who want to return to work and social life in a very short time.
  • Those who cannot accept a shaved head as they have never had short hair since childhood.Women: A significant group of women who want to take advantage of the benefits of the shaveless method.

How is unshaven hair transplantation done?

Although fully shaveless transplantation is theoretical, it can rarely be applied practically. It is possible to perform hair transplantation in 3 different ways without shaving. Now, let’s briefly look at these 3 shaveless transplantation methods.

1) Partial Shaving of the Donor Area / No Shaving of the Recipient Area: This is the most commonly applied method in practice. The donor area hair must be at least 7-8 cm long. Essentially, the same shaving technique used in the FUT method is applied here. A small window-like section in the donor area is shaved according to the planned number of grafts. After local anesthesia, hair follicles are extracted one by one using the FUE method. If the donor area has good density and length, a second horizontal window can be created to extract more grafts. The direction of long hair here is horizontal and downward, allowing it to cover and conceal the shaved area. As a result, even on the first day after extraction, it is not noticeable that grafts were taken from the donor area. This method is ideal for female hair transplants, localized scar transplants, and men with long hair.

2) Complete Shaving of the Donor Area / No Shaving of the Recipient Area: If more than 2000 grafts are needed, the donor area can be completely shaved. However, the recipient area can remain unshaved. This technique can be used easily for hair thickening with the DHI method. If the donor area is strong, up to 5000 grafts can be extracted this way.

3) Completely Shaveless Transplant: In this method, neither the donor area nor the recipient area is shaved at all. Special FUE graft extraction punches have been developed for this. However, it is a highly difficult method to apply in practice. This technique is known as Long Hair FUE. It is usually not possible to extract more than 500 grafts in a single session. We do not perform this. Additionally, even if the hair is taken from the donor area, it will still shed due to shock loss. Therefore, this method is not very meaningful in practice.

Advantages of Unshaven Hair Transplantation

Since the procedure can be performed without cutting the hair, the shaveless method has become a preferred option for many individuals. Now, let’s discuss its advantages.

  • The healing process is shorter. Since the donor or recipient area is not shaved, long hair conceals scars and scabs, making them almost invisible.
  • Therefore, even on the first day, it may not be noticeable that a transplant was performed.
  • You can return to work and normal life in a very short time.
  • For thickening sparse hair, long hair is more advantageous. Because in this case, the sparse empty areas can be seen easier. In shaveless hair transplantation, very successful results can be achieved when combined with the DHI method.
  • Especially for women, the time required for hair to return to its previous length is eliminated.

Advantages of Unshaven Hair Transplantation

Like any method, this technique has its advantages as well as its disadvantages. These are:

  • It is not always possible to harvest a high number of grafts. If more grafts are required, second or third sessions may be necessary.
  • The washing process after the hair transplant is more difficult. Especially, a cream is applied to the recipient area before washing. Since this cream can stick to the hair gaps, the washing process must be done carefully.
  • Unshaven hair transplant prices may be relatively higher. This method requires a high level of skill and technical application. Performing the transplant between hair gaps without damaging the roots requires a lot of experience. Additionally, performing it with the DHI method can increase the cost.
  • Since the transplant is done between the hair gaps, the duration may be slightly longer. For example, a procedure that would take 3 hours may extend up to 4 hours.

Unshaven Hair Transplant AHD Clinic

As we mentioned before, our clinic has been a pioneer in unshaven hair transplant along with the DHI method since 2010. So far, we have successfully carried out thousands of operations using the unshaven method with excellent results for our patients.

At AHD Clinic, our fundamental philosophy is not to perform unshaven hair transplants on individuals who are not suitable. Our natural results are the reason why patients choose us.

If you are considering a unshaven hair transplant, please have a free consultation with us.

  • Before the consultation, we will ask for photos taken from different angles.
  • Your photos will remain confidential and will not be shared anywhere without your permission.
  • After the consultation, if we determine that you are suitable for a unshaven hair transplant, we will inform you of the estimated graft and operation fees.
  • If you decide to proceed, the appointment date will be arranged, and any other questions you have will be answered.

AHD Clinic is located in Antalya, one of Turkey’s famous cities. You can reach Antalya by direct flights from many cities around the world, available 12 months a year.

For more information, please contact us via WhatsApp at +90 532 313 4198. You can also subscribe to our Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook channels.