UNSHAVEN HAIR TRANSPLANT SURGERY
Unshaven Hair Transplant Surgery
An unshaven hair transplant is a procedure that doesn't require a patient to shave their entire head to have surgery. It is a technique that can give patients a greater level of discretion allowing them to return to work and social life quickly. The procedure leaves your hair long so that you can hide areas of surgery in the hairline or crown more easily in your recovery.
There a 2 main types with subtypes of unshaven hair transplant surgery:
Unshaven FUE hair transplant surgery (UFUE), subtypes:
- Unshaven FUE recipient site with shaven donor (minimally shaven)
- Unshaven FUE recipient and donor site
Unshaven FUT hair transplant surgery (UFUT), subtypes:
- Unshaven FUT recipient site with shaven donor (minimally shaven)
- Unshaven FUT recipient and donor site (rarely required)
At The Treatment Rooms London, our expert Surgeons are world-renowned in being able to carry out unshaven and minimally shaven transplants to give patients greater discretion when it comes to having their operation. Following an unshaven hair transplant, our patients are often able to get back to work within 5-10 days following the procedure.
Candidates for an unshaven FUE hair transplant (UFUE)
You can get a hair transplant without shaving your head or cutting your hair. An unshaven FUE hair transplant is identical to a standard FUE hair transplant, apart from you will have less of your head shaved, or won’t need to have your head shaven at all. Our expert Surgeons will take you through the main considerations when planning an unshaven hair transplant. Candidates for an unshaven hair transplant tend to be:
- Patients in the public eye who want greater discretion
- Patients who want to go back to work and social life quicker after surgery
- Want to keep their original hair in the same style and length, both during and after the procedure.
- Are daunted by the prospect of shaving their head or cutting their hair. They may have always had long hair, or simply don’t like the idea.
- Are happy to have a more gradual hair transformation than after a standard FUE hair transplant where the head is entirely shaved
UFUE or UFUT patients can keep their hair mostly or totally intact. The subtypes of unshaven hair transplants are summarised below. There are many nuances to the different subtypes that our Surgeons will be able to discuss with you in your 1-1 consultation with them.
Unshaven FUE: donor and recipient area no-shave
This procedure shaves no part of your recipient or donor area, allowing hair to be kept long in both areas. This allows hair behind or around the recipient area to be kept long so you can comb over and conceal the transplant in your hairline, temples or crown. This is shown below where the gentleman underwent an unshaven hair transplant to his hairline.
Unshaven FUE: no shave into recipient area with donor area shave
This type of unshaven hair transplant requires no shaving or a minimal haircut to the recipient area so you have your implanted grafts placed in between existing long hair. Your donor area will require a short haircut to enable the extraction of grafts. This is summarised below in an unshaven crown hair transplant. These types of transplants can be more time-consuming and there is a limit on how many grafts can be transplanted in a given day of surgery. They do allow for greater discretion for those looking to hide their hair transplant in their recovery.
Unshaven FUT surgery (UFUT)
This procedure involves a different technique called FUT or strip hair transplant surgery where a strip of skin is taken out from the back and sides of your scalp. It allows your hair to be kept long at the back of your scalp to cover the area that has been operated on. Generally, this type of no-shave procedure allows even greater discretion when it comes to going back to work and social life when compared to an unshaven FUE hair transplant. The only area that tends to be shaved in this procedure is the strip of skin that needs to be taken out at in the donor area. Patients may opt to have little to no hair shaved at the front or the crown in this procedure.
Unshaven FUT recipient site with shaven donor
In this unshaven hair transplant, a small strip is shaved in the donor area to extract your hair-bearing strip of skin. Hair is kept long above and below this area to conceal the area that is taken out. You will see this in the adjacent picture.
Unshaven hair transplant surgery steps
If you are looking for an unshaven hair transplant in London, also called a no-shave hair transplant, here is what you can expect during your journey in our clinic:
- Hairline or crown area drawn on the morning of surgery (45 minutes)
- No-shave or minimal shave performed to the areas planned
- Anaesthesia to the areas (5-10 minutes)
- Incisions to the unshaven or minimally shaven recipient area (1 hour)
- Extraction of hair from the minimally shaven or unshaven donor area (2 hours)
- Lunch (30 minutes)
- Re-implantation into recipient site through long hair or minimally shaven area (2 hours)
- Post-operation debrief (30 minutes)
- Recovery at home (7-10 days)
Benefits of an unshaven hair transplant
An unshaven hair transplant is a complex procedure that requires a highly skilled surgical team. The procedure is favoured by patients for many reasons, including:
- Being able to return to normal activities quickly, with no disruption to everyday life
- Your original hairstyle can be maintained
- Post-operative scabs and redness will be less prominent as they are easier to hide
Benefits of the procedure will be discussed with you by your dedicated hair transplant Surgeon in your 1-1 consultation with them.
Risks of Unshaven Hair Transplant Surgery
The risks of an unshaven hair transplant are the same as a regular shaven transplant. However, during your procedure, our Surgeons will need to take extra precautions when implanting in-between existing long hair to ensure they do not damage your existing hair. At The Treatment Rooms London our Surgeons wear the latest quality magnification loupes when operating so they are able to operate in areas that would normally be more difficult for other Surgeons in different clinics to see.
Unshaven hair transplant recovery
After you’ve had your UFUE or UFUT hair transplant, the aftercare and recovery process is similar to the period following a normal hair transplant. However, with a unshaven FUE hair transplant procedure, patients can return to work quicker compared to an unshaven FUT procedure or other procedures requiring a fully shaved head.
Despite the shortened time for resuming daily activities, you can still expect a degree of swelling (2-3 days) and redness for the first two weeks or so after the procedure.
During the recovery period, you should follow your aftercare instructions closely. These are likely to include advice such as:
- Sleep with your head in a slightly elevated position
- Avoid washing your hair for a 4 days
Dan’s Hairline Transplant
Type of Surgery : FUE hair transplant
Hair Loss Level : Norwood 3
Number of Grafts : 1510
"If you are concerned about your hair, like a lot of guys are, getting in touch with The Treatment Rooms and making that change is the best thing I’ve ever done for my confidence"
Unshaven FUE hair transplant timeline
An unshaven hair transplant should give you the same results as a shaven hair transplant. The timeline of your hair growth after an unshaven hair transplant is shown and described below. It will help you to see when you can expect to see results following an unshaven FUE hair transplant.
Immediately after unshaven hair transplant:
Immediately after an unshaven hair transplant you will see the small grafts all implanted into the hairline above. Hair is kept long behind which can be combed forward to help conceal the area of surgery.
Month 1: At 1 month after your unshaven hair transplant, your transplanted hair will have started to shed. The rest of your hair will have continued growing as normal as shown below, where the patient's hair behind his new hairline has continued growing allowing him to cover his transplanted hairline.
Month 2: Your transplanted hair will still be in the resting phase before the new hairs start to grow. For this reason, you may not notice significantly thicker hair in the recipient area yet.
Month 3: By this time, the shedding process is out of the way and your new hair will be growing gradually. You will see in the patient below, his new hairline has started to grow with finer hairs coming through.
Month 4: You will notice more growth at the recipient area where your new hair has been implanted, but as these new hairs are typically ‘wispy’ in appearance, a significant difference may not yet be visible.
Months 5-12: During this period, your transplanted hair will continue to grow and thicken. And by around a year after your procedure, you will be able to see the full results of your unshaven hair transplant.
Unshaven hair transplant results in 1 year after surgery
Unshaven hair transplant cost
An unshaven hair transplant tends to be more expensive as the procedure is more delicate and labour-intensive for a Surgeon to perform. An unshaven FUE or FUT hair transplant has an average cost of £6,000-£10,000 depending on the amount of grafts that need to be transplanted. A full understanding of how much hair transplant surgery costs can be found in our dedicated hair transplant price page.
Unshaven hair transplants at Treatment Rooms London
At Treatment Rooms London, our award winning hair transplant clinic excels in providing patients safe, predictable unshaven hair transplant surgery. We can offer both FUT and FUE hair transplant surgery to patients using the unshaven method to ensure they are able to return to work and social commitments quicker after surgery.
Book a consultation today with one of our expert surgeons to discuss your hair treatment options. Our experienced professionals will be able to examine your hair, your hair loss and create the best hair transplant plan for you.
Choosing Your Surgeon For Your Unshaven Hair Transplant
All Surgeons at The Treatment Rooms London are GMC registered and work under our brand and clinic. Our renowned and award winning hair transplant Surgeons that are experts in performing unshaven hair transplant surgery are:
- Dr Roshan Vara, Co-Owner and Hair Transplant Surgeon
- Dr Dilan Fernando, Co-Owner and Hair Transplant Surgeon
- Dr Puroshini Pather, Hair Transplant Surgeon
All patients are seen 1-1 with their Surgeon with no sales people involved. They can expect to receive tailored advice and surgical planning to ensure they achieve their restoration safely with minimal disruption to their daily life. This often involves discussing an unshaven hair transplant procedure and the different methods we employ to help patients restore their hairline or crown.
Meet our Hair Transplant Surgeons & Owners
Dr Fernando and Dr Vara are both award winning, accomplished surgeons, who have years of experience in the field of hair restoration surgery. They have won Hair Restoration Clinic of the year 2023 at the prestigious Aesthetic Awards in London, testament to the quality of care they provide. They are both experts in being able to perform unshaven hair transplant surgery for those wanting an FUE or an FUT hair transplant procedure.
Both of them are regularly invited to appear on prominent media outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, The Metro, The Sun and The Daily Mail.
James’ Hairline Transplant
Type of Surgery : FUE hair transplant
Hair Loss Level :Norwood 3
Number of Grafts : 1194
"I couldn’t have asked for more. Got the exact result I was hoping for and looks so natural that nobody could ever tell I’d had a hair transplant"
The Treatment Rooms London Reviews
The Treatment Rooms London In the media
Expert Aftercare.
Designed by our surgeons
Our exclusive aftercare booklet is created by our lead surgeons, shaped by years of clinical experience and research.
Supporting your recovery every step of the way, including:
- Surgeon-led advice, delivered directly by our team
- Your recovery, mapped day by day
- Essential answers, clearly outlined
UNSHAVEN HAIR TRANSPLANT FAQs
No, you do not have to shave your head for a successful hair transplant. While shaving your hair can make it easier to access your scalp and extract hair follicles, it is now possible to have a hair transplant done successfully without having to shave large areas of your head.
For an unshaven hair transplant (UFUE or UFUT), the surgeon will trim a part of the donor area and with the help of advanced skill and technology, move hair from the donor area to the area with hair recession or thinning.
Authored by
Dr Roshan Vara
Dr. Roshan Vara is a renowned hair transplant surgeon in London and the Co-Founder of our award winning hair transplant clinic, The Treatment Rooms London.He has over 10 years of experience in hair transplant surgery and is recognised for delivering natural-looking results through ethical, patient-centred care. He is a Full Medical Member of BAHRS and an Associate Member of ISHRS, reflecting his commitment to the highest standards in modern hair restoration.
Reviewed by
Dr Dilan Fernando
Dr. Dilan Fernando is regarded as one of the best hair transplant surgeons in London and Co-Founder of The Treatment Rooms London. He has over 10 years of experience in hair transplant surgery and is known for his meticulous technique and commitment to ethical practice. He served on the Executive Committee of BAHRS from 2020 to 2024, helping to shape industry standards for patient safety and quality of care. Dr. Fernando personally performs each surgery, ensuring natural results built on trust and experience.
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