- Price
- Personal quote
- Stay in Istanbul
- 3 days
- Recovery
- First wash after 2 to 3 days; final result after 12 to 18 months.
- Operation time
- 6-8 hours
- Anaesthesia
- Local anaesthesia
- Hospital stay
- Same-day discharge
- Back to desk work
- 3-7 days
Updated:
Who is it for?
For people who want to return to work or social life quickly without a shaved head, and who need a limited number of grafts. For large bald areas a shaved technique is usually better.
How is it done?
Grafts are taken from small zones in the donor area that are hidden under longer hair, and placed between the existing hairs, usually with an implanter pen.
Alternatives and how to choose
An unshaven hair transplant is chosen when keeping your current look is more important than the number of grafts. It works best for a limited area, such as refining the hairline or adding density. For large areas, a shaved FUE gives more grafts and more control. Some patients choose a partly shaven approach, where only a small donor strip is shaved and covered by longer hair.
Good to know before you decide
- Your hair should be long enough to cover the donor zones; the clinic tells you how long before you travel.
- The procedure usually takes longer than a shaved transplant because the team works between existing hair.
- Small crusts can still be visible up close for about a week.
- Do not cut or dye your hair until your doctor allows it.
- The shedding phase in the first weeks also happens after an unshaven transplant.
Recovery timeline
| When | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Procedure; it often takes longer than a shaved procedure. |
| Days 2 to 3 | Check-up and first wash; flight home. |
| Days 7 to 10 | Crusts fall off. |
| Weeks 2 to 8 | Shedding of the transplanted hairs. |
| 12 to 18 months | Final result. |
Unshaven hair transplant: price
Personal quote
What is included: Hotel (usually 5 nights), hospital stay, accommodation for one companion, breakfast, VIP airport and hospital transfers, blood tests, follow-up visits, compression garment, complication insurance and 1 year of online aftercare. Flights are not included.
For your personal fixed price: Message us on WhatsApp
Risks and possible side effects
Every operation carries risks. With an experienced surgeon, a fully equipped hospital and good preparation, most are rare and treatable. Your surgeon explains your personal risks during the consultation; complication insurance is included in the price.
- Bleeding or haematoma (blood collecting under the skin)
- Infection, treated with antibiotics
- Reactions to anaesthesia, minimised by the pre-operative assessment
- Delayed wound healing; smoking increases this risk considerably
- Temporary shock loss (weeks 2-8)
- Some grafts growing less than expected
- Thinning of the donor area, prevented by careful planning
After your surgery
- Sleep half-upright for the first nights.
- Do not touch or scratch the grafts.
- The first wash is done at the clinic; then wash as you are shown.
- No sport, sauna or pool for 2 weeks.
- No tight hats in the first days, and protect the area from the sun.
→ Before your surgery · Surgery day, step by step
Why patients choose Esthebeyond
- Partner hospitals hold the Turkish Ministry of Health authorisation for international patients, and complication insurance is included in the price.
- Hair transplants are performed by an experienced hair transplant doctor, under local anaesthesia.
- One fixed, written price that includes hotel, transfers, hospital and follow-ups.
- One personal coordinator on WhatsApp, in English or your own language (we speak 15 languages), from first question to aftercare at home.
- 1 year of online aftercare with photo and video check-ins.
Frequently asked questions
Why is an unshaven transplant limited to smaller areas?
Working between long hairs is slower and the number of grafts that can be taken in one session is lower. For a large area, a shaved procedure gives the doctor more control and more grafts.
Will people see that I had a transplant?
Much less than with a shaved head. The longer hair covers the donor zones and most of the recipient area, although small crusts can be visible up close for about a week.
How long does unshaven hair transplant take?
About 6-8 hours, under local anaesthesia. The time depends on your plan and any combined procedures.
Is unshaven hair transplant painful?
Only the local anaesthetic injections are briefly uncomfortable; afterwards there is mild soreness.
When can I go back to work after unshaven hair transplant?
Most people return to desk work after about 3-7 days; physically demanding work needs longer.
Unshaven hair transplant in Turkey: is it safe?
It can be, when an experienced hair transplant doctor performs it in a properly equipped clinic, checks the cause of your hair loss first and takes no more grafts than your donor area can safely give. We plan 3 days in Istanbul. Read our honest guide: Is plastic surgery in Turkey safe?
What happens if I have a problem after I fly home?
Your coordinator stays available on WhatsApp, and we follow your recovery with photos and videos for a year, passing your questions on to the surgical team. For anything urgent, contact your local doctor or emergency services straight away. See how we approach patient safety.
Before you decide
- Is plastic surgery in Turkey safe? An honest guide
- Patient safety at Esthebeyond
- How to choose a plastic surgery clinic in Istanbul
- Esthebeyond facts: prices, surgeons and stay
Related procedures
- Hair transplant
- FUE hair transplant
- DHI hair transplant
- Sapphire FUE hair transplant
- Hair transplant for women
- Eyebrow transplant
Information on this website is general and does not replace a medical consultation.