Your Complete Guide on DHI Hair Transplant

What is a DHI hair transplant?

DHI hair transplant (Direct Hair Implantation) is a type of hair transplant surgery and a new variation of the FUE technique developed in 2010 by Global Medical Group. With this method, hair transplant is shortened into two main steps rather than three. The surgeon uses the CHOI Implanter pen to implant the grafts directly without opening the incisions separately.

How does DHI work?

DHI hair transplant surgery works the same way as the classic FUE in extracting the grafts from the back side of the head. However, the only difference is that it doesn’t require the surgeon to open the canals in a separate step.

With the help of the Choi Implanter, the surgeon inserts the grafts directly into hollow needles attached to the pens and implants them in the scalp. In this way, the steps of opening the canals and implantation are combined into one step.

The stages of the DHI method

The DHI method has two main stages: extraction and implantation of the grafts. A punch removes follicular units from the donor area during the extraction stage. Next, the follicular units are directly inserted into the recipient area using the Choi implanter pens.

Here is an infographic that shows how this procedure works:

How many hair grafts can be transplanted with the DHI?

Unlike what some clinics try to convince patients, DHI allows for many hair grafts to be transplanted in a single treatment. It’s best suited for small areas. The number of grafts a surgeon can transplant using DHI ranges between 2500 and 4000. If the patient needs more grafts, performing the surgery using another technique, such as Micro FUE or Sapphire FUE, is better.

Implanting over 4000 grafts means a lengthier process that exceeds 8 hours. If a clinic promises to transplant 5000 hair grafts in a single session within 7-8 hours, be sure that it will be done very fast and without precision. Eventually, this will affect the final results and may even lead to failure.

Who can get a DHI hair transplantation?

DHI hair transplantation can be used for men and women over 20 years old. The procedure is most effective for people who have:

Lost hair due to genetic factors, such as male pattern baldness.
Have enough healthy hair follicles to donate to the transplant site.
Those with no active skin infections or inflammation in the area where the surgery will be performed.
Candidates should be physically healthy and have no history of chronic diseases, kidney failure, or heart-related problems.
DHI is best used for individuals with receding hairlines and temples or who need more density in thinning areas. However, it may not be the best option for those with advanced baldness and big balding patches.

If you’re not sure if DHI is right for you, you can always get in touch with us for a free consultation.

Pros and cons of DHI hair transplant?

Like all other hair transplant techniques, DHI has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Pros:

Eliminates the need to create the incisions prior.
Reduces the time that the grafts stay out of the skin.
Results in relatively less scabbing.
Less bleeding during the surgery.

Cons:

It’s more expensive than other types of hair transplants.
It takes more time as it needs more precision.
The wrong insertion of the grafts into the implanter pens can damage the hair follicles.
If done by a less experienced team, it may lead to unnatural-looking results.

How long is the DHI hair transplant recovery time?

The recovery process following a DHI hair restoration technique is typically short. It’s similar to the recovery process after any type of hair transplant, which is, on average, between 10 and 14 days.

One of the biggest advantages is that fewer scabs form on the transplanted area. This is because the hair follicles are implanted directly into the scalp without the need to open the canals separately.

Most patients also report only mild discomfort during the procedure, quickly relieved by the numbing agent. Immediately after the treatment, the area may be slightly red and swollen, but this typically subsides within a few days. Patients can often return to normal activities after one week, although strenuous exercise should be avoided for 1 month.

Patients will experience temporary hair shedding in the treated area two weeks after a hair transplant. However, new hair growth should begin in the third month.

What are the risks associated with DHI hair transplantation surgery?

DHI hair transplant surgery is a minimally invasive and safe procedure. However, like any surgical procedure, it has some potential risks. This may include:

Infection.
Loss of scalp sensations (numbing).
Shock loss is the temporary shedding of either the donor or the transplanted hair.
Reaction to the local anesthesia.
Necrosis or death of skin tissue.

To avoid complications, it’s important to select your hair transplant clinic carefully and follow the post-operative instructions.

Hair transplant without shaving using DHI

Most hair transplants require shaving the hair in order to extract and implant the follicles accurately. However, this can be a problem for some patients, who may not want to shave their heads completely.

Fortunately, a partial shave is possible in some cases of mild hair loss and hairline recession. This is when the doctor only shaves the donor and recipient sites.

Yet, some hair transplant clinics promise their patients that they can perform hair transplants without shaving the hair by using the DHI technique. But regardless of that, shaving is not something related to the technique used. It’s related to the necessity of trimming the hair very short to enable the precise extraction and implantation of the grafts.

Keeping the hair long will prevent the team from clearly seeing the hair. It also causes problems when washing the hair since the newly transplanted grafts can stick to the existing long hair and get dislodged.

Difference between FUE and DHI: which is better?

DHI is a modified version of the FUE (follicular unit extraction). Both procedures involve harvesting hairs from the donor area and transplanting them into the recipient area.

However, the main difference lies in how the hair follicles are implanted. In the FUE technique, the surgeon uses steel or Sapphire blades to create incisions in the recipient (balding areas). Then, they place the grafts into the incisions.

DHI, on the other hand, doesn’t require the incisions to be opened beforehand. Instead, the hair grafts are inserted into a Choi implanter pen and immediately implanted into the scalp. So, the creation of incisions and implantation happen simultaneously.

Which one is better: FUE or DHI? Both options generate excellent results if performed by a highly skilled and experienced hair transplant specialist.

However, it depends on each patient’s individual case and degree of baldness. Those who have receding hairlines and temples or suffer from small areas of hair thinning could be good candidates for DHI. Patients with big areas of baldness are better suited for FUE hair transplant.

Also, you need to keep in mind that some clinics may promote DHI over other techniques since it costs more.

How much does a DHI hair transplant cost? Are there any financing options available?

The cost of a DHI hair transplant will vary depending on the number of grafts, the country it’s performed in, and the surgeon’s reputation. But the prices typically range from $4,000 to $15,000.

Since DHI is considered a cosmetic procedure, there are no insurance plans that cover this type of surgery. However, if you’re looking for a way to reduce the cost of a hair transplant, you can consider having it in a country that charges less while maintaining high quality, such as Turkey.

Our clinic offers the same quality of medical care as in your home country at a fraction of the cost. Contact us to find out if you’re a candidate.

DHI hair transplant in Turkey

DHI hair transplant in Turkey has become very popular recently due to its experienced surgeons and affordable prices. Almost all the clinics in Turkey use this method. However, not all of them can guarantee the best results if they don’t have the necessary skills to carry out this procedure.

Although a hair transplant with DHI is considered very expensive in Turkey, the DHI hair transplant price is considered very cheap for patients coming from Western countries, where it costs between $4,000-$15,000.

The cost of a DHI hair transplant in Turkey ranges between $2,000 and $3,500, including accommodation and VIP transportation. For many people, this is considered a great investment, as they can get a high-quality service for an affordable price and enjoy the beauty of Turkey.

DHI hair transplant before and after:

In the video below, you can see DHI hair transplant results for one of our patients who wanted to lower his hairline.