DHI / Choi implanter — site and placement in one step
DHI (Direct Hair Implantation) places harvested follicular units directly into the recipient scalp using a Choi implanter pen. The pen creates the incision and deposits the graft in a single action — no pre-made channels, no second instrument pass. It is the right answer for hairline reconstruction at tight density and for cases where minimising graft out-of-body time is the priority.
We run DHI as a same-day daycase. Hairline drawn at 08:00, implanted by mid-afternoon, in your hotel by early evening.
What it is
The Choi implanter is a hollow needle loaded with a single follicular unit. The surgeon (or trained implanter under direct supervision) positions the pen at the planned site, presses the plunger, and the graft is placed at controlled depth, angle, and direction. There is no pre-made incision. The graft spends roughly five seconds out of body per implantation cycle — significantly less than the 15–25 minutes typical of pre-made-site implantation.
The needle calibre is matched to the follicular-unit size (0.7 mm, 0.8 mm, 0.9 mm, 1.0 mm). The combination of finer needles and direct placement allows tight density without the recipient-site trauma of a slit blade.
When DHI is the right answer
DHI shines in three case profiles:
- Hairline reconstruction. The pen geometry allows single-hair follicular units to be placed at irregular angles and intervals — the hallmark of a natural anterior margin.
- Unshaven or partial-shave restoration. Because no pre-made channels are needed, DHI can place grafts between existing hairs without a full recipient-zone shave.
- Minimising graft out-of-body time. Patients with marginal donor quality or those undergoing very large sessions (4,000+ grafts) benefit from shorter graft-out-of-body windows.
Same-day choreography
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 08:00 | Hairline drawn with the surgeon |
| 08:30 | Donor extraction begins |
| 12:30 | Lunch in the lounge |
| 13:30 | Implantation begins (no separate channel-opening phase) |
| 16:30 | Final photographs, post-op pack |
| 17:00 | Back to your hotel |
| +24 h | Wash visit at the clinic |
DHI sessions are typically 30–60 minutes shorter than sapphire-FUE sessions for comparable graft counts because the channel-opening phase is collapsed into the implantation phase.
DHI vs sapphire FUE — different phase priorities
| Question | DHI / Choi | Sapphire FUE |
|---|---|---|
| Graft out-of-body time | Shorter | Longer |
| Recipient-zone trauma | Lower | Slightly higher |
| Surgeon control over depth/angle | Per-pen | Per-blade-stroke |
| Hairline naturalness | Excellent (irregular placement easy) | Excellent (irregular placement easy) |
| Unshaven sessions | Possible | Difficult |
| Maximum density | Tight | Tighter |
| Learning curve | Steeper for implanters | Steeper for surgeons |
We perform both, often in the same case. The plan specifies which technique applies to which zone.
Who is a candidate
- Norwood II–V hair loss patterns where hairline reconstruction dominates the goal
- Cases requiring unshaven or partial-shave restoration (work-imposed constraints)
- Stable donor area with healthy follicular-unit yield
- Realistic graft-count expectations from the donor reserve
Recovery
Identical recovery profile to sapphire FUE:
- Day 1 — wash visit
- Day 7–10 — crusts resolve, return to office
- Week 2–6 — shock loss (transient)
- Month 3–4 — initial growth
- Month 12–18 — final outcome
The wash schedule is identical because the donor extraction (the recovery-driving phase) is the same.
What it is not
DHI is not a magic technique that produces more hair. The follicles grow according to graft handling and biology. DHI's advantages are in placement precision, density at the hairline, and shorter graft-out-of-body time — not in absolute survival numbers, which are within audit-range similarity to sapphire FUE.
It is not always the best answer. For large mid-scalp or vertex restoration sessions where coverage matters more than per-follicle precision, sapphire FUE is often more efficient. The plan tells you which is right.
The package
The locked one-day daycase package: the procedure (graft count from your plan), daycase suite, all medications, optional one hotel night with transfers, 24-hour wash visit, translator, 18 months of video follow-up. One number. Signed by the surgeon who will perform it.