Hair Transplant FAQ

Do I Need to Shave My Head for a Hair Transplant?

Learn more about the different stages of hair restoration, including hair transplant procedures, treatment planning, recovery, and the gradual growth of transplanted hair.

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Do I Need to Shave My Head for a Hair Transplant? Video

Do I Need to Shave My Head for a Hair Transplant?

Not every hair transplant requires the entire head to be shaved. Whether shaving is recommended depends on the procedure, number of grafts, donor and recipient areas, hair characteristics, and the surgical plan developed for your individual case.

Why Is Hair Sometimes Shaved for a Hair Transplant?

Shaving or trimming certain areas can make it easier for the surgical team to visualize the scalp and perform precise graft harvesting and placement.

  • Provides better visibility of the donor area.
  • Can make individual graft extraction easier.
  • Allows precise preparation of the recipient area.
  • Helps the surgical team manage grafts during the procedure.

Can a Hair Transplant Be Performed Without Completely Shaving?

Some patients may be candidates for a minimally shaved or limited-shaving approach. However, this is not appropriate for every patient. The decision depends on the hair loss pattern, donor characteristics, treatment area, number of grafts, and surgical plan.

Will My Hair Be Shaved During a MaxHarvest™ Procedure?

The preparation required for a MaxHarvest™ hair restoration procedure is determined on an individual basis. MaxHarvest™ focuses on strategic donor hair utilization and personalized treatment planning, so the preparation approach is selected according to the patient’s specific restoration needs.

How Will I Know What Preparation Is Required?

During your consultation, Dr. Brett Bolton will evaluate your hair loss, donor area, hair characteristics, and restoration goals. Your surgical team can then explain whether full shaving, partial shaving, or another preparation approach is appropriate for your procedure.

With more than 10,000+ hair restoration procedures performed and extensive experience with corrective hair restoration, Dr. Bolton develops individualized treatment plans based on each patient’s needs.

Understanding hair transplantation can help patients make informed decisions about their hair restoration options. Treatment planning can take into account factors such as the pattern of hair loss, available donor hair, existing hair characteristics, and individual restoration goals.

A hair transplant is a personalized procedure, and the recommended approach can vary from one patient to another. Learning about the treatment process, preparation, recovery, and gradual development of transplanted hair can help patients establish realistic expectations.

For people researching hair restoration, understanding the different stages of treatment can provide useful background before a consultation. Professional evaluation can then help determine which options may be appropriate for the patient’s individual circumstances.

Patient Experiences

Hear From Hair Transplant Patients

Explore real patient experiences and learn what patients have shared about their hair restoration journey with Dr. Brett Bolton.

★★★★★
Dr. Brett Bolton's work is very impressive...It Just Stands Out! The facility was warm and inviting, and the staff offered the most phenomenal hospitality I had ever experienced. What stood out most to me is the fact that Dr. Brett Bolton did not look at me as if I were just a $Dollar sign like... Read Patient Experience →
Patient Jackie
Verified Hairtransplantsociety Review • February 2014
★★★★★
Steve and his assistant gave me the instructions in a thoroughly professional manner. They treated me like part of a family, giving me all the nuts and bolts of hair transplantation. I am looking forward to get my confidence back after the surgery and look "younger". Read Patient Experience →
Patient Suddan
Verified Hairtransplantsociety Review • December 2013
★★★★★
I'm at 8 months post surgery and so far I'm pleased with the results.... just waiting a few more months for final result. Josh has been absolutely great with communication before and after my visit. He's a true professional and knows the business inside and out. If you're coming from out of town... Read Patient Experience →
Patient Mark
Verified Google Review • July 2023
★★★★★
I made up my mind to find the doctor who was able to show his work with the most detail and had the most examples. I knew the more he showed the better chance I had of having a good result. I found it amazing how few examples many doctors have on their site. Read Patient Experience →
Patient Sopheak
Verified Hairtransplantsociety Review • December 2013
★★★★★
Everything was awesome, my procedure- great. It's been a blessing coming across Dr. Brett Bolton. He's an artist in in his work, I couldn't be anymore happier. I'd highly recommend him to anyone him to anyone looking to get this procedure done. he's the best in the biz. Read Patient Experience →
Patient E
Verified Hairtransplantsociety Review • April 2014
★★★★★
I took the plunge and have never regretted it! I have reached my 1 year mark and have a head full of hair! My friends and family are amazed at my growth. I highly recommend Dr. Brett Bolton to anyone regardless of age who wants to regrow or maintain their hair. Read Patient Experience →
Patient Nitin
Verified Hairtransplantsociety Review • November 2013
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Why Patients Choose Hollywood Hair Transplant

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Find answers to your hair transplant questions and learn more about our approach to personalized hair restoration care, patient experience, and natural-looking results.

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Patient Success Stories

Featured Hair Transplant Patient Stories

Explore featured hair transplant patient stories, before and after results, treatment journeys, and long-term follow-up from Dr. Brett Bolton.

Patrick Hair Transplant Before and After

Patrick

Before & 1 Year Follow-Up

Explore Patrick’s hair transplant results, with documented progress following one surgery through one year, using the MaxHarvest™ Technique.
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Tim Hair Transplant Before and After

Tim

Before & 1 Year Follow-Up

Explore Tim’s hair restoration results, with one surgery and documented progress at one year, using the MaxHarvest™ Technique.
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Samim Hair Transplant Before and After

Samim

Before & 1 Year Follow-Up

Explore Samim’s documented hair transplant journey, including one surgery and one year, using the MaxHarvest™ Technique.
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Jeff Hair Transplant Before and After

Jeff

Before & 1 Year Follow-Up

See the documented hair transplant results for Jeff, including one surgery and results from one year, using the MaxHarvest™ Technique.
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Mark Hair Transplant Before and After

Mark

Before & 1 Year Follow-Up

Mark’s case provides documented before and after hair transplant results, with one surgery and one year of follow-up, using the MaxHarvest™ Technique.
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Patient 376 Hair Transplant Before and After

Patient 376

Before & 1 Year Follow-Up

Patient 376’s hair transplant case features before and after results from one surgery, with documented one year of follow-up.

View Patient Results
Real Patient Results

Watch Real Patient Videos & Hair Restoration Results

Explore real patient video testimonials, hair transplant journeys, before-and-after results, and educational hair restoration videos from Dr. Brett Bolton and Hollywood Hair Transplant.

Our Pricing Philosophy

Please understand that we do not charge by the graft. We believe that pricing hair transplantation this way can be misleading. For example, when a clinic quotes “1,000 grafts,” that number alone does not indicate how much hair you are actually receiving. A graft may contain one, two, or three hairs, and each situation represents a very different total amount of hair, even though the patient is charged the same based solely on the graft count. For this reason, we believe that graft-based pricing does not always reflect the true value or outcome of a procedure.

Instead, we have chosen what we believe is a fairer and more transparent approach: pricing based on the amount of donor tissue removed. Our planning is based on averages. The average adult male has approximately 200 hairs per square centimeter in the donor area, although individual hair density varies. Regardless of individual density, patients at the same pricing level receive approximately the same amount of donor tissue extracted. This provides consistency in the amount of tissue removed rather than relying on graft numbers that can vary significantly in hair content.

While it is not possible to guarantee an exact number of square centimeters removed, we make every effort to come as close as possible to the planned amount. When feasible, we aim to slightly exceed the planned amount rather than fall short.