Do you have to shave your head for a hair transplant? This is one of the top questions we get asked at the Wimpole Clinic.
Unshaven hair transplants, also known as unshaven FUE or UFUE transplants, are becoming more and more popular. These almost undetectable hair transplants allow you to go out and about soon after your hair transplant, and most people won’t notice you’ve had surgery to enhance your hairline.
So how does UFUE work, and is it the right hair restoration treatment for you? Find out everything you need to know about getting a hair transplant without shaving your head here at our award-winning hair transplant clinic.
Modern unshaven hair transplant techniques can deliver natural, discreet results without requiring a full head shave. In this article, you’ll learn how no shave hair transplant techniques work, who they’re suitable for, the recovery timeline, costs, and the advantages and limitations of choosing a less noticeable hair restoration procedure.
Key takeaways
No, it’s no longer necessary to shave your head to have a hair transplant, thanks to the evolution of modern hair transplant techniques. Led by Dr Michael May, Wimpole Clinic surgeons have been instrumental in developing these methods. We continually work to perfect our hair transplant techniques, including UFUE.
UFUE works the same way as standard FUE, except that you can have a hair transplant without shaving your head fully beforehand. Partial shaving is sometimes necessary in the donor and/or recipient sites, but this can often be hidden behind your remaining hair.
There are lots of reasons to consider getting an unshaven hair transplant:
UFUE is increasingly popular, but there are some drawbacks to consider before you take the plunge:
Wimpole Clinic surgeons are among the best in the UK, and have helped hone and perfect the UFUE technique. So we’re well-placed to offer the highest quality UFUE procedure.
If you want a less noticeable procedure that gets you fantastic results, a UFUE could be the right procedure for you. So let’s find out how UFUE actually works.
An unshaven FUE transplant works the same way as standard FUE, except that your hair remains mostly intact before the extraction process begins. The amount of hair that’s removed depends on the type of UFUE you choose (more on this in the section below).
To understand how a hair transplant without shaving works, it’s essential to know the distinction between two important scalp sections:
If your donor area is unshaved:
If your recipient area is unshaved:
There are multiple types of UFUE, some of which do involve partially shaving your head. But essentially, these methods all minimise the use of shaving to reduce visibility of your hair transplant.
Here’s what you can expect from each type of UFUE.
If your donor area is left fully unshaved, the technician will part the hair in your donor area horizontally, then extract individual hair grafts from this area:
This type of UFUE is practically undetectable. But it may not be suitable for people who need a lot of hair grafts. It’s much more difficult to extract a large number of grafts using any FUE technique, let alone when the donor area isn’t shaved.
Your hair transplant consultant can advise if this procedure is suitable for you based on the extent of your hair loss.
A partially shaved donor area is best suited for people seeking a long hair transplant. Surgeons can section off a donor area that will be completely hidden by your remaining hair following the procedure.
A partially shaved recipient area is still pretty noticeable in the early stages following a hair transplant. But if your hair is long enough, you may be able to cover some of the scabbing and redness after a few days:
You may be able to leave the recipient area fully unshaved if you have low hair density in this area. Lower density means the surgeon can see the best places to implant your hairs.
Leaving the recipient area unshaved means your scabs can be partially hidden by your existing hair:
Leaving the recipient area unshaved also makes your natural hair patterns more visible, so your surgeon can follow them more easily.
UFUE has a similar recovery period and hair transplant timeline as FUE. Here’s what to expect:
Use a preventative hair loss treatment like Finasteride or Minoxidil to maintain your existing hair and prevent ongoing hair loss.
Most people who are eligible for a hair transplant can have UFUE. But there are some instances where it might be more suitable:
UFUE is a relatively expensive type of hair transplant, due to the time-consuming, demanding nature of the treatment. But it doesn’t have to be prohibitively expensive.
At the Wimpole Clinic, our FUE prices start at £3,499. The average cost is usually between £3,500 and £7,000. Get a bespoke quote for UFUE based on your hair loss when you book a consultation.
Unshaven hair transplants are popular, but they’re not always the first port of call.
If you’re wondering whether you have to shave your head for a hair transplant, the best way to find the right hair restoration treatment is to speak to a hair loss specialist at the Wimpole Clinic. We can answer any questions you might have about hair transplants.
At the Wimpole Clinic, we’ll offer you all the free, impartial advice you need to choose the right treatment route for you. If you decide to opt for unshaven FUE, our highly skilled surgical team has performed hundreds of similar procedures in the past, with fantastic results. Book a free consultation either online or face to face at one of our clinic locations to learn more.
Discover more about unshaven hair transplants in these frequently asked questions.
There’s no need to fully shave your head with a follicular unit transplantation (FUT) hair transplant. This procedure involves removing a strip of skin from your donor area, which contains hair follicles for transplantation. While this leaves a narrow hair transplant scar at the donor area, only a small part of the donor and/or recipient area may need trimming for the procedure.
No, women don’t have to fully shave their heads to get a hair transplant. Even as a woman with very long hair, unshaven FUE and FUT hair transplants are still available. You may need to have a small section of your donor or recipient area shaved, but this is often easy to conceal with longer hair during the recovery period.
It’s possible to get the same results with an unshaven FUE hair transplant as with a traditional, fully shaved FUE hair transplant. However, this is usually only the case for smaller procedures. Unshaven FUE can take longer and be more challenging for the surgeon, so it may be difficult to achieve the same level of density without multiple procedures.
Wimpole Clinic Services:
Hair Transplants, Beard Transplants & Eyebrow Transplants.
Talk to a specialist
Dr. Michael May (GMC No: 1642315) is the Medical Director and Principal Surgeon of the Wimpole Clinic. He has more than 35 years’ experience in the field of hair transplant surgery and has completed over 10,000 hair transplant procedures, accumulating an unmatched breadth and depth of experience that is exclusively available to Wimpole Clinic patients.
Dr. May entered private practice in 1982 when he first became involved with hair surgery. Since then, he has dedicated his career exclusively to the science and practice of hair transplant surgery and hair restoration.
He qualified at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London after which he trained and registered as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. Dr. May was instrumental in developing the revolutionary technique of follicular unit transplant (FUT), and subsequently he also presented papers and lectures in the UK and Europe to professional colleagues. He quickly became recognised by his peers and colleagues as a leader in the field of follicular unit hair transplantation.
Dr May specialises in hair restoration surgery covering; FUE, FUT lateral slit, eyebrow transplants, eyelashes, beard transplants, sideburns, burns, and repairs.
As a leading authority in his field, Dr. May became a founder member of the BAHRS. He has also served as the president of the BAHRS and the European Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons. In addition, Dr. May is a registered member of the Trichological Society and became a Diplomat of Hair Restoration Surgery (ABHRS) in 2002. Dr. Michael May’s full list of associations are as follows:
Dr. May is available to prospective Wimpole Clinic patients during their consultation and carries out many of the hair transplant procedures at the clinic.
