Why do Some Surgeons Require Shaving my Head While Others Don’t for a Hair Transplant?

I have some hair in the front of my head and if I were to get  hair replacement in the front, is it necessary to shave my head?   I see most hair transplant photos with the recipient area shaved.   Does shaving provide a better chance for survival? Does it make it easier for the  doctor to operate?

Though I feel that shaving the recipient area creates an optimal work environment for the hair restoration physician, in my opinion, it isn’t always necessary.

Where shaving appears to be most helpful is when transplanted hair is placed in between and around a lot of existing native hair. Around sparse natural hair, shaving is most likely not going to be as much of an issue.

The type of recipient incision made also may be a factor here. Whereas cases can be made for both perpendicular (coronal/lateral) and paralel (sagital) incisions depending on the hair loss patient, I have heard many physicians argue that sagital incisions do a much better job of sliding in and around existing hairs to avoid transection then lateral incisions. This certainly makes a strong case for physicians who do not require shaving of the recipient area.

At the same time however, those who don’t typically require shaving admit that surgery can take much longer when transplanting in between and around existing natural hair which could then potentially make larger hair transplant megasessions exceeding 4000 follicular unit grafts near impossible to perform in a single day.

Bill Seemiller
Associate Publisher

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