DHI Hair Transplant
Channel opening and graft placement happen in a single step with the Choi implanter pen.
Know what to expect over 12 months
DHI (Direct Hair Implantation) combines channel opening and graft placement into a single step. The pen-shaped Choi implanter is pre-loaded with a follicle at its tip and inserted directly into the scalp; the same motion opens the channel and places the graft. In effect, the two separate steps used in classic FUE and Sapphire FUE are reduced to one.
The practical result is that follicles spend less time outside the body, and placement angle and depth can be controlled more precisely through the pen itself. This makes DHI particularly useful in areas where existing hair is thinned but not fully gone — that is, cases requiring thickening between existing strands — because grafts can be placed directly among existing hair without needing to pre-open channels.
Since DHI is worked one follicle at a time with a pen, procedure time is generally longer than with classic or Sapphire FUE, and sessions covering extensive loss can take considerably longer. For this reason, DHI is favoured less for large full-area loss and more for cases requiring precision — thickening, fine hairline detail, and unshaven procedures for female patients. The right technique is determined by assessing donor capacity and the extent of loss together.
Who Is It Suitable For?
Suitable
- Zones where existing hair is thinned but not fully lost, requiring thickening
- Patients wanting fine-tuning of the hairline or added density along an existing line
- Cases preferring an unshaven procedure who want to keep haircutting to a minimum in the donor/recipient area
- Female patients planning hairline lowering or regional thickening
- Small-to-moderate loss cases where placement precision is the priority
- Hairline zones where precise pen-controlled channel depth and angle matter
Not Suitable
- Cases with very extensive, full-area loss requiring rapid placement of a high graft count in one session (procedure time can lengthen considerably)
- Patients with insufficient donor capacity
- Patients who need a shorter session due to time constraints
- Anyone with an active scalp infection or uncontrolled skin condition
- Candidates with a bleeding disorder or uncontrolled chronic condition affecting clotting
How Is It Performed?
- Donor and recipient-area analysis — The area to be thickened and donor capacity are assessed together to produce a graft plan.
- Shaving and local anaesthesia — The donor area (or, if needed, only a narrow strip) is shaved, and local anaesthesia is applied.
- Follicle extraction — Follicular units are removed one at a time from the donor area with a fine punch.
- Loading follicles into the Choi pen — Each harvested follicle is loaded individually into the cannula at the tip of the implanter pen.
- Direct implantation — The pen is inserted directly into the skin without a pre-opened channel; the same motion opens the channel and releases the follicle, with angle and depth controlled through the pen.
- Continuing in sequence and density control — The process repeats until the planned density and thickening pattern is complete.
- Dressing and initial check — The area is cleaned, and wash and aftercare instructions are given.
How It Differs From Other Techniques
| Feature | DHI | Sapphire FUE | Classic FUE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Channel opening and placement | Combined in one step (Choi pen) | Two separate steps | Two separate steps |
| Time follicles spend outside the body | Relatively shorter | Standard | Standard |
| Thickening between existing hair | High suitability | Moderate-to-high suitability | Limited suitability |
| Suitability for unshaven procedures | High | Moderate | Low-to-moderate |
| Procedure/session length | Usually longer | Standard | Standard |
| Efficiency for extensive loss | Limited | High | High |
Recovery Timeline
| Period | Expected State |
|---|---|
| Day 0-3 | Pinpoint redness in the recipient area; swelling is usually limited since channels aren't pre-opened |
| Week 1 | Small scabs form and begin to soften; the wash protocol is applied |
| Month 1 | A shock-loss phase may follow scab shedding |
| Month 3 | Fine, sparse new growth begins to be noticeable among existing hair |
| Month 6 | The thickening effect becomes visible, blending existing and new growth |
| Month 12 | Results mature; the thickening and hairline goal is largely settled |
Three photos are enough
Send three photos — front, crown and back. You'll receive your donor capacity, graft range and suitable technique within 24 hours.
Request a free analysis
Graft Range and Donor Capacity
As with other techniques, the factor that sets the upper limit on graft numbers in DHI is the donor area's density and elasticity — the technique changes how harvested grafts are placed, not how many can be taken. Working with the Choi pen allows grafts to be placed precisely, one at a time, without pre-opening channels, which works efficiently for small-to-moderate graft ranges, particularly in thickening cases where existing hair is preserved. For extensive loss, however, working pen-by-pen can mean the same graft count takes longer to complete than with classic or Sapphire FUE. Graft range and session planning are set according to donor analysis and the targeted thickening area.
See your graft range for this technique
Your loss pattern and donor density produce a range, a suitable technique and an estimated session length. The final plan comes from a photo assessment.
Frequently asked about this treatment
In classic FUE, recipient channels are opened first, and follicles are placed afterward in a separate step. In DHI, channel opening and follicle placement are combined into a single motion using the Choi implanter pen. This can make DHI advantageous especially in cases where density is being added between existing hair.