Is It Possible To Keep a Shaved Head Military Cut After a Hair Transplant?

Written by Spencer Kobren on October 25, 2008

This might seem like a silly question, but can I keep my head shaved to a military cut if I have a hair transplant? I’d like to just lower my hairline to kind of make a shadow where there is currently no hair. I like to wear my hair very short and think that if I lower the hairline that I would look a lot better. Can this be accomplished with a hair transplant and will it be noticeable?
- - - - - - - - -

First of all I’m glad you took the time to write before jumping into surgery. Before I continue, I would like to make it clear that I am NOT a physician, and the information provided in this response is my opinion based on over a decade of experience as a consumer advocate for men and women suffering with hair loss.

This is a great question and a more common one than you might think. The short answer would be yes. It is possible to have a hair transplant and to keep your head shaved to a military cut. However, the reality of the situation is that a favorable outcome depends on several factors. First and foremost, in my opinion, a traditional, strip method hair transplant is out of the question. Even in the most capable hands, you will be left with some degree of a linear scar across the back of your head, which will not be camouflaged by the surrounding hair if you plan on shaving down.

This leaves you with one option, the newer FUE hair transplant procedure. Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is a procedure where the surgeon is able to remove individual, in tact follicular units directly form the scalp, using a very small surgical punch instead of removing an entire strip of tissue in order to harvest the grafts. With this procedure the surgeon must use the donor tissue sparingly so as not to cause a visible confluence of scaring or a “moth eaten” effect.

Your hair and skin characteristics will also play an important role in creating the illusion of a full head of stubble, untouched by male pattern baldness. Most physicians will also suggest that you begin medical treatment with Propecia in an attempt to stop or slow the progression of further hair loss.

While I have personally seen some beautiful FUE results on patients who wore their hair extremely short, hair transplant surgery of any kind is still a commitment the requires the patient to have realistic expectations and a full understanding of the particular procedure that he plans on having.

There are several IAHRS members currently performing FUE hair transplant surgery. Take your time and get as many opinions as possible about your individual case before making a decision to undergo hair transplant surgery.

Spencer Kobren
Founder, American Hair Loss Association
Founder and Director of Consumer/Patient Affairs, International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons (IAHRS.ORG)

Join the Hair Transplant Forum to connect with hair transplant veterans, ask questions to IAHRS Surgeons, watch videos and see actual hair transplant patient photo galleries. Click To Join