No Shave Fue Hair Transplant: Stress Free Hair Restoration.

Written By Anna Wilkinson. Updated: November 2024.

Provided by BeautyClover (Photo: iStock by Getty Images).

A no shave FUE hair transplant is a popular hair restoration procedure that allows patients to keep their existing hair length before, during and after the transplant. This article explains what a no shave FUE hair transplant is, who are the best candidates, the process, results, and answers common questions about having a hair transplant without shaving your head.

Table of Contents.

What is a No Shave FUE Hair Transplant?

A no shave FUE (follicular unit extraction) hair transplant is a type of hair restoration procedure where the patient does not need to shave their head prior to surgery. This allows the patient to keep their existing hair length and style throughout the entire process.

The key differences from a traditional FUE hair transplant are:

No need to shave the head prior to surgery
The surgeon trims the existing hair very short around the transplant recipient area
Individual hair follicles are extracted from the donor area at the back and sides of the scalp via small punch tools amidst the surrounding full-length hair
The follicular unit grafts are transplanted into the recipient area amongst the short trimmed surrounding hair

This allows patients to keep their original hair length and style without anyone knowing they had a hair transplant procedure. The transplanted hairs seamlessly blend with the surrounding hair once they begin to regrow after the transplant.

Who is a Good Candidate For No Shave FUE?

No shave FUE hair transplants are suitable for both men and women who wish to restore their hair but want to avoid having a visibly shaved head after the procedure.

Ideal candidates include:

Patients with longer hair who do not want to cut it very short or shave it for the transplant surgery
Individuals who want to keep their hair transplant confidential and avoid any visible signs they had work done
People who want to return to work or their normal routine immediately after the procedure without any noticeable change in hairstyle
Both men and women are good candidates as long as they have sufficiently healthy hair follicles in the donor area to extract grafts from

No shave FUE may not be ideal for people with very advanced balding or hair loss. This is because the surgeon needs some surrounding hair to help conceal the short-trimmed transplant recipient area.

How Does a No Shave FUE Hair Transplant Work?

While the no shave technique avoids having your head shaved, there are still some key steps to the procedure:

Hair in the recipient area is trimmed short – The surgeon will trim the hair in the recipient/transplant area down to around 1-2mm. This helps properly expose the scalp where the new follicles will be transplanted. The surrounding hair helps conceal this.
Donor follicles extracted from the back and sides – Using small punch tools, individual hair follicle grafts are extracted from the donor area at the back and sides of the scalp amidst the full length hair. No need to shave this area.
Grafts transplanted into the recipient area – The extracted donor follicles are meticulously transplanted into the recipient area amongst the short trimmed hairs using surgical needles.
Normal appearance immediately after – Unlike a shaved head, once complete the transplanted area blends naturally amidst the trimmed hairs with no visible scarring or linear scar.
Let the new hairs regrow – Over the coming months, the transplanted follicles enter the regrowth phase and new hairs begin to emerge seamlessly with the surrounding hairs.

The entire process is minimally invasive due to the nature of FUE technology and is performed under local anesthetic. There are no scalpels, sutures or stitches involved.

What About Recovery and Results?

The main advantages of recovery from a no shave FUE hair transplant include:

No need to shave the head so you can leave with the same hairstyle and length
The donor area remains untouched and concealed by surrounding hair
Redness and minor swelling in the recipient area is hidden amidst existing hair
You can return to work after 2-3 days with no visible signs of having a transplant
The transplanted hairs regrow over 3-12 months blending seamlessly with your natural hair

In terms of final results, a well performed no shave FUE hair transplant should be undetectable to the naked eye. The transplanted hairs blend naturally with your existing hair once regrowth is complete.

The results are permanent and transplanted hair will keep growing just like the rest of your natural hair.

Frequently Asked Questions About No Shave FUE:

Here are answers to some common questions about no shave FUE hair transplants:

Does a no shave FUE procedure take longer?

A no shave FUE takes approximately the same time as a traditional FUE transplant. In some cases it can be slightly longer depending on the amount of recipient area preparation needed around existing hair.

Is it more expensive than traditional FUE?

The cost is usually comparable to traditional FUE. No shave FUE does require extra precision and time trimming the recipient area so costs can be slightly higher.

How long after can you resume normal activities?

Most patients can return to work and normal activities after 2-3 days once the initial swelling has subsided. Strenuous exercise should be avoided for up to 7 days.

How many grafts can be transplanted in one session?

Approximately the same number of grafts can transplanted in a single session as traditional FUE – usually up to 3000-4000 depending on your scalp laxity.

Can I get a body hair transplant using the no shave method?

Yes, body hair transplantation using chest or beard hair can be effectively performed using a no shave FUE technique. This avoids the need to shave thick beard or body hair prior to harvesting donor follicles.

When will the transplanted hair start growing?

The transplanted follicles will shed 2-3 weeks after the transplant, then enter the regrowth phase around 3 months. Most patients see new growth after 3-4 months. Full results take 9-12 months.

Conclusion.

In summary, a no shave FUE hair transplant offers immense benefits for people who want to restore their hair but also keep their existing length and style intact before, during and after the transplant procedure.

With no linear scarring and the ability to blend naturally with your existing hair, no shave FUE provides undetectable hair transplant results for both men and women after around 9-12 months.

If you want to repair thinning hair or balding without anyone knowing you had a procedure, a no shave FUE hair transplant could be the best minimally invasive solution.

Key Points to Remember:

No shave FUE allows you to keep your existing hair length before, during and after the transplant.
Ideal for discreet hair restoration without any visible signs of having a procedure.
Involves trimming the recipient area short and extracting follicles from the back and sides without shaving.
Blends naturally with your hair and looks undetectable once regrowth is complete.
Suitable for both men and women wanting to restore thinning hair while keeping their hairstyle intact.
Recovery is quick with no linear scarring in the donor area.
Results are permanent and transplanted hair regrows just like your natural hair.

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