Afro hair transplant
Hair Transplant Methods
DHI Hair Transplant in Turkey
DHI Hair Transplant in Turkey: how an implanter pen places each graft, how it compares with FUE, who may be suitable, growth phases, risks and aftercare.
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What is DHI hair transplant?
DHI, short for direct hair implantation, is a variation of FUE that changes how the grafts are put in. The donor stage is essentially the same – follicular units are removed individually from the back and sides of the scalp – but instead of opening all the recipient channels first and then inserting grafts with forceps, each graft is loaded into the hollow needle of a Choi-type implanter pen. The clinician then inserts the needle at the chosen angle and depth and releases the graft in one movement, so the opening and the placement happen together.
Clinicians who favour DHI often say the pen gives them close control over the angle, direction and depth of each graft, and that it can be helpful when working between existing hairs – for example when adding density to thinning areas without shaving them, or when refining a hairline. Because grafts are handled through the pen rather than gripped repeatedly with forceps, some suggest it may reduce handling, although comparative evidence on growth outcomes is limited.
DHI also has practical demands. Pens must be loaded continually by trained assistants, pens of different needle sizes may be needed for different graft types, and the process can be slower for large areas. For extensive baldness, many clinicians find classic channel-based FUE more efficient. The choice between methods is a matter of fit rather than ranking.
What it can help with
- Place grafts with careful control over angle and depth
- Add density between existing hairs with minimal disturbance
- Shape a soft, natural-looking hairline transition
- Plan coverage within the limits of your donor supply
Results · before & after
Real hairlines, visible change.
Before and after photographs from DHI hair transplant and related treatments at our clinic in Istanbul. Drag the handle to compare each pair.
All hair results
Afro hair transplant
Case 02
Afro hair transplant
Case 03
Afro hair transplant
Case 04
Afro hair transplant
Case 05
Afro hair transplant
Case 06
Who is DHI hair transplant for?
DHI suitability rests on the same foundations as any FUE procedure – a clear diagnosis, a stable enough pattern and a donor area that can support the plan. The method is then chosen according to the area, your hair characteristics and the clinician’s experience.
Often a good fit
- People with pattern hair loss who have a reasonable amount of native hair in the recipient zone
- Those seeking a modest to moderate area of restoration, such as hairline and temples
- Patients who would prefer not to shave the recipient area, where feasible
- People with adequate donor density and realistic expectations
Assessed carefully
- The extent of the area to be treated – very large areas may be more efficiently treated with channel-based FUE
- Hair calibre, curl and length, which affect how easily grafts load into the pen
- Donor density and the safe extraction zone
- Rate of ongoing hair loss and the role of medical therapy
- General health, blood thinners and smoking
Honest information
Benefits, limitations & risks
Potential benefits
- Close control over the angle, direction and depth of each graft
- Can be helpful for placing grafts between existing hairs
- May allow the recipient area to stay unshaven in suitable cases
- Uses your own hair, which tends to blend naturally once grown
Limitations
- Often slower than channel-based FUE, so large areas may be harder to cover in one session
- Requires a well-coordinated team to load pens continually
- Evidence that DHI produces better growth than other FUE techniques is limited
- The donor area is still finite, and the number of grafts available does not change with the method
- Ongoing hair loss in untreated areas may affect the long-term appearance
Possible risks
- Swelling of the forehead or around the eyes in the first days
- Shock loss of native hairs near the implantation sites, often temporary
- Damage to existing hairs when working in dense areas
- Folliculitis, small cysts or, less commonly, infection
- Patchy or reduced growth in some areas
- Temporary numbness, tightness or tenderness of the scalp
The procedure
DHI Hair Transplant, step by step
DHI is best regarded as a valuable tool for particular situations rather than a universal answer. The method is chosen after the plan, not before it.
Step 01Consultation and method choice
After reviewing your hair loss and examining the donor area, your clinician explains why DHI, classic FUE or another approach may suit your goals, and what a realistic scope looks like.
Step 02Design and preparation
The hairline and recipient zones are marked and reviewed with you. The donor area is trimmed, and the recipient area may be left at length or shortened depending on the plan.
Step 03Individual extraction
Under local anaesthesia, follicular units are removed one by one with a micro-punch, spread evenly across the safe donor zone, and kept cool and hydrated.
Step 04Loading the implanter pens
Assistants load each graft into the needle of an implanter pen, choosing needle sizes suited to single-, double- or multi-hair grafts.
Step 05Direct implantation
The clinician inserts each pen at the planned angle and depth and releases the graft, working gradually across the zone and between any existing hairs.
Step 06Final checks and aftercare
The area is reviewed, and you are given instructions on washing, sleeping position, activity and follow-up through the coming months.
Gallery
Our clinic
Procedure room Procedure room II 
Procedure room III 
Rest area 
Reception
DHI compared with FUE, sapphire FUE and unshaven transplants
DHI and FUE share the same extraction stage – individual follicular units taken from the donor area. The difference is in implantation. In classic FUE, the clinician opens channels first, typically with fine steel blades, and grafts are then placed with forceps. Sapphire FUE keeps that sequence but uses a sapphire-tipped blade for channel opening; evidence that this improves results is limited. DHI loads each graft into a Choi-type implanter pen that creates the opening and places the graft at once, which may help with angle control and working between existing hairs, though it can be slower for large areas. Unshaven transplants keep the hair long and are generally limited to smaller areas with longer sessions, and they are not suitable for everyone. None of these methods is objectively superior; the most suitable one depends on your case and your clinician’s experience.
- Classic FUEChannels are opened first with fine steel blades, then grafts are placed with forceps – often efficient for larger areas.
- Sapphire FUEAn FUE variation using a sapphire-tipped blade for channel opening; evidence of superiority is limited.
- Unshaven transplantA way of organising the procedure for small areas while keeping your hair long; DHI is often part of it.
- PRP and medical therapyNon-surgical options that may help support existing hair, sometimes used alongside a transplant.
Before & after treatment
Preparation & aftercare
Before you travel
- Discuss your full medical history, current medication and any history of poor wound healing
- Only pause blood-thinning medicines or supplements if your prescriber agrees
- Avoid smoking and alcohol for the period your clinic recommends
- Ask whether you should keep your hair at its current length for an unshaven or partial-shave plan
- Wear a loose shirt that opens at the front on the day of the procedure
Afterwards
- Personal instructions from your clinician override any general advice here
- Keep pressure, friction and scratching away from the grafts in the first days
- Wash gently as shown, typically starting on the day advised after the procedure
- Sleep with your head elevated for the first few nights to help limit swelling
- Avoid heavy exercise, swimming, saunas and strong sun for the advised period
- Plan photo updates or check-ups; many people notice early growth around months 3–4, with the result typically assessed at 12 months or later
In their words
What our patients say.
Hair transplant patients describe their experience — from the first conversation to aftercare.
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Questions
Asked about DHI hair transplant.
General answers — your own plan always depends on an individual assessment.
All hair questionsIs DHI the same as FUE?
DHI is a variation of FUE. The grafts are extracted the same way; the difference is that an implanter pen opens the site and places the graft in one step.
Does DHI give higher density?
Not reliably. Density depends on donor supply, hair characteristics and planning. DHI may help when working between native hairs, but it does not increase the number of grafts available.
Can DHI be done without shaving?
In some cases the recipient area can stay at length, particularly for smaller areas. The donor area is usually trimmed, unless a specific unshaven plan is agreed.
What is shock loss, and will it happen after DHI?
Shock loss is temporary shedding of native hair near treated areas. It can occur with any technique; in many cases the hair regrows within a few months, but already weakened hairs may not return.
Will I need medication after DHI?
A transplant does not stop pattern hair loss elsewhere. Your clinician may discuss medical therapy to help protect existing hair, taking your health and preferences into account.
How is the growth timeline different from FUE?
It is broadly similar. Transplanted hairs often shed in the first weeks, early growth is often seen around months 3–4 and the result is usually assessed at 12 months or later.
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