Shaving the Recipient Area

I came into your office for a hair transplant in September of 2004. It was very successful and I now scheduled to come in for a second transplant to add density in a few weeks. When I came in for my first transplant I was surprised to hear that the doctor wanted to shave the recipient site of head to about 1/4″ in length. At the time it did not bother me, because I was able to wear a hat where I work. I am now coming in for a second session and things have changed. I need to be able to go back to work within four days of the surgery. I have spoken with several staff members at your office and they all have stated that there is no reason for the doctor to have to shave my head except in the donor area, but if my hair is long enough it will cover it up. I wanted to ask you personally if it is true that I don’t need to have the recipient site cut or shaved at all. My hair now is about 1 1/2″ long and I would like to leave it at that. If so I would also like to know why I had to do it the first time or was it just a personal preference of that doctor.

The recipient area does not have to be shaved for a hair transplant, but there are some doctors that prefer to make the recipient sites in a shaved area. When I am the physician I do not have the recipient area shaved.