Hair Transplant Without Shaving

Hair loss is an issue that over half of the world’s population encounters at one point in their lives. Triggered by numerous factors, including age, genetics, illness, stress, even specific hairstyles, once it starts, it’s virtually impossible to stop, and no medical shampoo or topical treatment can help it. In these instances, hair transplant surgery is often the only permanent solution.  

Requests for hair transplants in Turkey have been on the rise in recent years as the procedure has become more effective and more affordable. However, since the surgery typically calls for a close shave pre-op, many patients are hesitant about going through with it. After all, many men and women take pride in their long hair regardless of how thin it is, and they don’t want to shave and let the whole world see they’d just had a hair transplant.  

Fortunately, there’s a way around it. Hair transplant procedures using DHI implants could eliminate the need for shaving. Take a look.  

Is it possible to have a hair transplant without shaving?  

Traditionally, the patient would have to shave both the donor and the recipient area of the head before a hair transplant surgery. Shaving allows the doctor to easily locate hair grafts suitable for extraction and find the best place for their implantation.  

Not to mention that old-fashioned hair restoration procedures such as the Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT) required the doctor to remove a long strip of the scalp from the donor area, which means making a large incision on the back of the head. Having long hair for this procedure would lead to unnecessary risks and complications that could potentially impact the patient’s wellbeing.  

However, thanks to the advances in technology, such invasive procedures as the FUT are a thing of the past, and shaving is rendered optional. 

FUE hair transplantation using a hollow needle and DHI transplantation using the Choi implanter pen have allowed doctors to operate on the recipient and donor area without forcing the patient to shave.  

Unshaven DHI hair transplant  

Several hair transplant techniques are specifically designed for thin hair, and Direct Hair Implantation (DHI) is the best one if you want to avoid shaving.  

To treat hair loss, the doctor uses tools known as Choi implanters.  

First, they start by applying local anesthesia to the donor and recipient areas of your head to numb pain sensation. Then, they extract hair grafts containing up to four hair follicles from the donor area and set them in a nutrient solution.  

If you are unshaven, the doctor will cut the grafts to the root after extracting them.  

Then, the doctor loads the Choi pen used in the DHI method with a single hair graft and inserts it into the recipient area. There’s no need for them to open channels or make incisions in the recipient area beforehand. The Choi implanter simultaneously opens the channel and inserts the graft.  

Unshaven FUE hair transplant  

FUE transplants are similar primarily to hair implantation DHI transplants. First, you receive local anesthesia, then the doctor extracts hair grafts from the donor area and leaves them in a nutrient solution (cutting the grafts to the root after extraction).  

However, without the Choi implanter, the doctor will need to make micro incisions and open channels in the recipient area before transplanting the hair.  

Whichever technique is used to treat hair loss, you should know that avoiding shaving will bring some limitations. If you don’t shave at all, your doctor will be able to transplant only about 1,000 grafts (∼2,000 to 4,000 hair follicles) because the surgery is more demanding, requiring extreme skill and precision. With shaving, the maximum number of grafts rises up to 4,000 (∼8,000 to 16,000 hair follicles).  

The popularity of unshaved hair transplants 

Considering that the DHI method eliminates the need for shaving the donor and recipient area of the head, the surgery became extremely popular among women suffering from hair thinning. However, many men also prefer to go this route.  

As mentioned, many take pride in their long hair. No one wants to shave their whole head and wear short hair for months, if not years. It’s not surprising that the popularity of unshaven hair transplants has skyrocketed in the past few years.  

The benefits of hair transplantation without shaving  

Unshaven DHI hair transplants bring an abundance of benefits, even though the costs of DHI are higher due to the time and effort it takes to perform it:  

• No visible scarring;  
• No shaving;  
• No awkward hair patches you need to cover;  
• Barely visible scabs post-op;  
• Short recovery time;  
• No visible signs of the surgery.  

If you’re a suitable candidate for unshaven hair transplants, it’s evident that this is the route to go. With the DHI technique, you can expect natural hair growth within as little as six months. However, the full results will be evident within 12 to 18 months.  

Final thoughts  

At the Sapphire Hair Clinic, we offer unshaven DHI and FUE hair transplants that provide natural, permanent results. During the free consultation, we’ll analyze your unique situation and offer advice on the best options for you.  

Contact us to schedule your consultation and leave your hair problems behind.