Unshaven Hair Transplant
Unshaven Hair Transplant
No cutting in the recipient area — and an honest account of what that costs you.
In an unshaven hair transplant nothing is trimmed in the recipient area; only a hidden strip in the donor area is shaved and covered by the hair above it. Grafts are placed between existing hairs with a Choi implanter. Because the work is done between standing hairs, the graft count is lower and the session runs longer than a shaved procedure. The question is not which method is better but which trade-off suits your situation.
Unshaven vs shaved — the honest comparison
| Unshaven | Shaved | |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | Very hard to notice from day one, because the hair is not cut. | The crusting period is exposed; social life usually resumes around day 10. |
| Graft count | Limited, because work is done between existing hairs — usually planned in the 2,000–3,000 range. | Up to 4,000–5,000 grafts can be planned in a single session. |
| Session length | Longer; each graft is loaded individually and placed between standing hairs. | Shorter for the same graft count. |
| Where it fits | Densification, hairline correction, lowering the forehead, women patients. | Covering wide, fully bald areas. |
Suitable candidates
- Patients who do not want their hair cut, or whose work makes visibility important
- Women — thinning at the parting and hairline correction
- Areas that are thinning rather than fully bald, where densification is the aim
- Anyone aiming at a limited correction of the hairline
- Patients who must return to normal life within a short window of leave
When it is not the right choice
- Cases where the crown and front have receded together and a wide area must be covered
- Plans targeting a high graft count in a single session
- Patients with limited donor capacity who want a wide area covered
- Anyone with an active condition of the scalp
How the day runs
- 01
Assessment
Existing hair density is measured and the realistic graft range is agreed in writing before you travel.
- 02
Hidden donor strip
Only a narrow strip in the donor area is trimmed; the hair above covers it completely.
- 03
Loading and placement
Each graft is loaded into a Choi implanter and placed between the standing hairs.
- 04
First wash
Done at the clinic the next day. Because nothing was cut, the change is barely visible.
Frequently asked questions
Will nothing at all be shaved?
A narrow strip in the donor area is trimmed — this is unavoidable, because grafts have to come from somewhere. The strip sits low at the back and the hair above covers it. Nothing in the recipient area is cut.
Why are the graft numbers lower?
The implanter has to work between standing hairs, which limits how densely and how quickly grafts can be placed. That is a physical constraint of the method, not a commercial one. If you need 4,000+ grafts, an unshaven approach will not deliver it in one session.
Can I go back to work the next day?
Most patients do within two to three days. There is fine crusting for about a week, largely hidden by the surrounding hair, but the head is not visibly shaved at any point.
Does it cost more?
Per graft it usually does, because the session is longer and more labour-intensive. Whether the total is higher depends on the graft count, which is lower. Your own figure is set in writing after assessment.
Is the result the same as a shaved procedure?
For the area treated, yes — the same follicles, the same permanence. What differs is how much area can be treated in one session.
Send your photos and we will tell you honestly whether unshaven is realistic
If your case needs more grafts than an unshaven session can place, we will say so rather than sell you a compromise.
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