Unshaven Hair Transplant (No Shave, U-FUE)

An unshaven hair transplant extracts and implants without shaving your head, so you can return to work within days without visible evidence of surgery. It is performed with the DHI Choi pen through the existing hair, and it is limited to 1,700–1,800 grafts: beyond that number the donor area cannot be harvested safely without trimming, and we will not exceed that limit regardless of request. Unshaven cases suit hairline refinement, temple restoration and moderate frontal thinning. Patients needing broader coverage are usually better served by a partial-shaved plan, where only the donor strip is trimmed and remains hidden by the hair above it.

Key facts

Maximum grafts1,700 – 1,800 (hard clinical limit)
TechniqueDHI Choi pen through existing hair
Best forHairline refinement, temples, moderate frontal thinning
Visible evidenceMinimal — no shaved donor patch
Back to workTypically 3 – 5 days
Alternative for larger casesPartial-shaved (donor strip only)
Session length7 – 9 hours
Donor areaNot shaved — grafts extracted long, through existing hair
PlacementLong grafts implanted long with the DHI Choi pen
Not suitable forNorwood 4 and above (graft demand exceeds the daily limit)
PackageUnshaven / Mega Session tier, up to €5,000 all-inclusive

Frequently asked questions

Why is the unshaven limit 1,700–1,800 grafts?

Extraction through unshaved hair is slower and the donor area cannot be evaluated or harvested evenly beyond that count. Exceeding it risks patchy donor depletion, so we treat it as a hard limit.

Will anyone be able to tell?

There is redness and small crusting in the recipient area for about a week, but no shaved patch. Most patients return to work within 3–5 days.

What if I need more than 1,800 grafts?

We recommend a partial-shaved plan: only the donor strip is trimmed and the hair above it covers it completely.

Why does an unshaven procedure cost more than a standard session?

Long-graft extraction and long-graft implantation take far more time per graft and require a more experienced team, plus special cooling and storage protocols because long grafts are more fragile. The price reflects time and handling, not a different implant material.

Is an unshaven transplant less successful than a shaved one?

Not when the case is within the graft limit. Survival rates are comparable because the grafts are held in a dedicated solution and implanted directly with the Choi pen. The risk appears when a clinic pushes the graft count beyond what can be harvested cleanly — which is exactly why we cap it.

Can women have an unshaven hair transplant?

Yes, and it is the technique we use for most female cases: the part line and the surrounding hair stay intact, and the donor area remains completely hidden.

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About the clinic

Sule Hair Clinic is a doctor-led hair transplant clinic in Istanbul, Türkiye. Dr. Enver Kayıkçıoğlu personally performs all Sapphire hairline channel incisions. Medical Director Dr. Selahattin Tulunay, a board-certified plastic surgeon, supervises the procedures and carries out the final quality control. Anaesthesiologist Dr. Zafer Ersin Ünlüer manages anaesthesia and intra-operative monitoring, and Şule Ölmez performs the hairline design consultations. We operate on a maximum of 4–5 patients per day, have completed 30,000+ consultations, and our graft-handling protocol with Hypothermosol cooling supports 99%+ graft survival. All-inclusive packages start at €2,990 and cover surgery, hotel, VIP transfers, medication and 12 months of follow-up; flights are not included. Google rating 4.9 from 1,755 reviews. Turkish Ministry of Health approved · USHAŞ registered health tourism provider.

Address: Yeşilpınar, Çay Sk. No:2, 34065 Eyüpsultan, Istanbul, Türkiye. Telephone: +90 545 674 31 91. Email: info@sule-hairtransplant.com.