Unshaved Hair Transplant

An unshaved hair transplant is performed without shaving the recipient area, or with only minimal shaving, so existing hair can hide the treated area during healing. Grafts are extracted from the donor area — which may still need partial shaving — and implanted between existing hairs.

It generally suits people who need a smaller number of grafts — for example to refine a hairline or add density to a limited area — and who have enough existing hair to camouflage the work. It is less practical for large bald areas. The medical team decides whether your case is suitable after an assessment.

Often partly. Extracting grafts usually requires shaving small sections of the donor area, which surrounding longer hair can cover. In some approaches individual hairs are trimmed instead. Ask exactly how the donor area will be handled, so you know what to expect when you go back to work.

Working between existing hairs takes extra care, so a session can take longer than a shaved procedure for the same number of grafts. That is one reason unshaved sessions are usually planned for smaller areas. Your plan explains how many grafts are planned and how long the day is expected to take.

The unshaved approach aims to make the procedure less visible, but redness, small scabs and some swelling are still common in the first days and may be noticeable up close. Transplanted hairs often shed after a few weeks before regrowth begins. How visible it is depends on your hair length and the size of the treated area.