DHI (Direct Hair Implantation)
FUE variant using a Choi pen — no pre-made channels, faster implantation.
Price range (Turkey)
€2,500 – €5,500
Estimated package range from publicly available pricing data. Confirm directly with each clinic.
How it works
DHI uses a Choi implanter pen that loads each graft individually and inserts it directly into the scalp without pre-creating channels. This allows precise angle and direction control, denser packing, and shorter time outside the body. Particularly suited for hairline and crown work, and beard/eyebrow transplants.
Step-by-step: how the procedure works
DHI uses a Choi Implanter Pen to combine recipient site creation and graft placement into a single step. Often preferred for women, eyebrows, and dense-packing among existing hair without full shaving.
Consultation & design
30–60 minSurgeon evaluates donor density and discusses whether DHI is the right fit. Often recommended for patients who want minimal shaving or precise dense-packing.
Donor preparation
15 minDonor area is trimmed (DHI typically uses a partial shave — recipient area may not need any shaving at all, useful for women and short procedures).
Local anesthesia
10–15 minDonor and recipient zones are numbed with local anesthetic. You remain awake and comfortable throughout.
Graft extraction
2–4 hoursFollicles are extracted one at a time using a 0.7–1.0 mm punch, same as FUE. Grafts are kept in cold preservation solution.
Loading the Choi pen
ongoingEach graft is loaded into a hollow needle inside a Choi Implanter Pen. The needle is pre-loaded and ready to fire.
Implantation (one step)
3–5 hoursThe pen creates the recipient site and places the graft in a single motion. Angle, depth, and density are controlled directly by the surgeon's hand for each follicle.
Post-op care
1–2 weeksSame recovery as FUE: saline spray, no touching, no exercise. Crusts shed by day 10. Some clinics report less swelling with DHI because no separate incision step is needed.
Visible results
9–12 monthsShock loss in weeks 3–4 is normal. Regrowth starts at month 3, density builds to month 6–9, and final mature results at month 12.
General overview only. Individual clinics may vary protocols slightly.
Pros
- +Higher density possible
- +Precise angle control
- +Minimal handling time
- +Less shaving needed
Considerations
- -More expensive than FUE
- -Requires highly trained team
- -Slightly longer procedure
Conditions this treats
Hair conditions where DHI (Direct Hair Implantation) is commonly used.
Male Pattern Baldness
The most common form of hair loss in men — affects 50% by age 50.
Learn moreFemale Pattern Hair Loss
Diffuse thinning across the top of the scalp — affects 40% of women by age 50.
Learn moreReceding Hairline
Early stage hair loss — frontal hairline retreats backward, often forming an M-shape.
Learn moreEyebrow Hair Loss
Loss of eyebrow hair from genetics, plucking, alopecia, or trauma.
Learn moreBeard / Facial Hair Loss
Patchy or sparse beard growth — genetic, alopecia barbae, or scarring.
Learn moreClinics specializing in DHI (Direct Hair Implantation)
Clinics that highlight this technique as a specialty.
Smile Hair Clinic
Istanbul · est. 2018
First and only hair transplant clinic worldwide with Temos A-rated certification. 5.0 Trustpilot with 4,044+ verified reviews.
€3,500 – €5,800
Cosmedica Clinic
Istanbul · est. 2007
20,000+ operations over 16 years. Dr. Levent Acar internationally recognized for Micro Sapphire FUE.
€3,000 – €4,800
Sule Hair Transplant
Istanbul · est. 2016
JCI, ISO, TUV Rheinland, ISHRS accredited. Perfect 5.0 Trustpilot rating. 10,000+ operations.
€3,200 – €4,800
Other clinics offering DHI (Direct Hair Implantation)
HLC Hairline Clinic
Ankara · est. 2008
Premium Ankara clinic — manual FUE performed by surgeons only, no assistants. Doctor-led care.
€4,500 – €7,500
Civas & Akpınar Hair Transplant
Ankara · est. 1999
Founded 1999. Dr. Civas is the first Turkish hair surgeon ABHRS-certified, ISHRS+AAHRS+ESHRS+EHRS member. One patient per day model.
€5,000 – €8,500
AEK Hair Clinic
Istanbul · est. 2014
Dr. Ali Emre Karadeniz — the only Turkish plastic surgeon worldwide with both ABHRS certification and FISHRS Fellow status.
€5,500 – €8,500
Dr. Serkan Aygin Clinic
Istanbul · est. 2004
Established hair clinic since 2004, 22+ years experience. Dr. Aygin personally oversees every operation.
€3,000 – €5,000
Get New Hair Clinic
Istanbul · est. 2018
Prof. Dr. Kayihan Sahinoglu — FISHRS + ABHRS dual credentialed. 25 years experience, 5,000+ surgeries.
€5,000 – €8,000
Sapphire Hair Clinic
Istanbul · est. 2017
Operates within Istinye University Hospital. Dr. Okan Morkoç, ISHRS associate member. Hospital A-License.
€3,200 – €5,000
Dr. Cinik Hair Hospital
Istanbul · est. 2008
High-volume Istanbul hospital, 16+ years operation. Dr. Cinik personally oversees the medical team. 60,000+ procedures performed.
€3,200 – €5,000
ASMED Surgical Medical Center
Istanbul · est. 2007
FUE-exclusive clinic founded by Dr. Koray Erdoğan, ISHRS and ESHRS member. Known for Sequential FUE technique and KE-Bot donor planning system.
€4,500 – €7,500
AHD Clinic
Antalya · est. 2002
Antalya hair clinic since 2002. Dr. Doganay holds ISHRS, IAHRS, and American Hair Loss Association membership.
€4,000 – €6,500
Frequently asked: DHI (Direct Hair Implantation)
Most patients return to non-strenuous work within 5–7 days. Visible scabs typically heal in 7–14 days. Full results — visible new hair density — show at 9–12 months post-procedure. Strenuous exercise and direct sun exposure are usually restricted for 3–4 weeks.
The procedure itself is done under local anaesthesia, so you don't feel pain during it. Most patients describe a mild pressure sensation, similar to a dental procedure. Mild discomfort and tenderness in the donor area are normal for 2–5 days post-procedure and are managed with paracetamol-level pain relief.
Modern techniques (FUE, DHI, Sapphire FUE) place individual follicles at angles matching surrounding hair, so a well-performed procedure is undetectable to non-specialists once fully grown out (12+ months). The natural-look outcome depends 90% on surgeon skill — not the technique label. This is why surgeon credentials (ISHRS, ABHRS) matter more than which technique is marketed.
A typical receding hairline restoration needs 1,500–2,500 grafts. Full crown coverage: 3,000–4,500. Extensive baldness restoration: 4,500–7,000 (sometimes split over two sessions). The exact number depends on your hair density, donor area capacity, and the area being treated — only an in-person or video consultation gives a reliable estimate.
Hair dyeing should wait 4–6 weeks post-procedure. Normal washing starts at day 10–14 with the clinic's prescribed shampoo. Styling products (gel, wax, hairspray) should be avoided for the first month. After 3 months, normal styling is usually safe.
DHI's main advantages are: (1) no-shave option is viable, allowing women to maintain their hair length throughout the procedure; (2) less disruption to existing surrounding hair when placing new grafts. Since women typically retain hair throughout the transplant zone (unlike male pattern baldness), preserving existing hair matters more — and DHI is better at that.