DHI stands for Direct Hair Implantation. After the follicles have been extracted, they are placed straight into the recipient area with a Choi Implanter Pen. The recipient incisions do not need to be made beforehand.
As each graft is inserted, the pen gives the surgeon control over its angle, depth and direction. This makes DHI particularly well suited to hairline work and density procedures, where precise placement matters most.
At our Harley Street clinic in London, DHI is performed by GMC-registered surgeon Dr Harpreet Kalra, working with a trained technician team. The procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic, and most patients return to normal desk-based work within a few days.
DHI can be performed without fully shaving the recipient area, making it a popular choice for patients who want to keep their existing coverage intact.
For patients also considering a scalp FUE hair transplant, the choice between the two techniques depends on the area being treated, the number of grafts required and whether keeping the existing hair during recovery is a priority.
Hair grows in small natural groups called follicular units. Each unit can contain one hair or several hairs growing together. During DHI, these units are normally removed individually from the back and sides of the scalp.
Once the grafts have been checked and sorted, they are loaded into a Choi Implanter Pen. As the surgeon presses the pen into the scalp, it creates the opening and places the graft in one movement.
The pen does not decide where the new hairline should sit or how the grafts should be arranged. Those decisions are made during the surgical planning. The implanter is the instrument used to carry out that plan.
DHI usually uses the same individual extraction method as an FUE hair transplant. The main difference comes during placement. FUE describes how the grafts are removed, while DHI describes the use of an implanter during insertion.
DHI is therefore not a separate supply of donor hair. The number of grafts available still depends on the density and condition of the permanent donor area.
The doctor examines the hair loss, scalp and donor area before discussing the shape and coverage the patient wants. Medical history, medication and previous treatment are reviewed at the same appointment.
A hairline is drawn while the patient is upright. Crown work is planned around the existing whorl rather than using a fixed pattern.
The donor area is trimmed where required and numbed with local anaesthetic. Follicular units are then removed individually with a small punch.
The extractions are distributed across the usable donor area so that too much hair is not taken from one concentrated section.
The technician team checks, counts and sorts the grafts. Fine single-hair grafts can be kept for the visible edge of a hairline, while units containing more hairs are used behind them for coverage.
The prepared grafts are loaded carefully into the Choi pens before being passed back to the surgeon.
The surgeon inserts each graft at the planned depth, angle and direction. The placement follows the surrounding hair rather than applying the same angle across the whole treatment area.
Patients normally leave on the day of treatment with written instructions covering washing, sleeping, exercise and protecting the grafts.
DHI works best when the treatment plan matches the available donor hair. The doctor needs to know how much hair can be removed safely, how large the recipient area is and whether the requested density can be achieved with the available grafts.
It is often discussed for focused hairline restoration, temple work, mid-scalp thinning and some crown procedures.
A large area of advanced hair loss may require a different graft plan or more than one procedure. DHI cannot compensate for a weak donor area or supply grafts that are not available.
Active scalp disease, rapidly changing hair loss or medical factors affecting healing also need to be assessed before surgery. In those cases, treatment may be delayed or a different approach recommended.
DHI grafts are normally removed one at a time, just as they are with FUE.
After preparation, each graft is loaded into a Choi Implanter Pen. The pen makes the opening and places the graft in the same movement, so the recipient incisions are not created in advance.
During an FUE hair transplant, follicular units are removed individually from the donor area.
The recipient sites are made separately before the grafts are placed. FUE does not leave one continuous donor scar, although every extraction leaves a small round mark.
With an FUT hair transplant, a narrow strip of hair-bearing scalp is removed from the donor area.
The strip is separated into individual grafts under magnification. Closing the donor wound leaves a permanent linear scar.
DHI pricing depends on the number of grafts, the size of the treatment area and the complexity of the placement. Hairline work, crown restoration and treatment between existing hairs can require different amounts of surgical time even when the graft numbers are similar.
The consultation is used to calculate the graft estimate and decide whether the work should be completed in one procedure or planned in stages. The clinic should confirm the full price and what it includes before treatment is booked.
Wider information about surgical pricing is available on our hair transplant cost page. Patients who want to spread the cost can also ask about the available finance arrangements during their consultation.
The recipient and donor areas need time to settle after treatment. Patients receive individual instructions, but the following stages give a general idea of what happens during recovery.
Washing, exercise and sleeping instructions are explained in more detail in our hair transplant aftercare guide.
Dr Harpreet Kalra is registered with the General Medical Council under reference 7126076. At Harley Street Hair Transplants, he performs DHI procedures with the support of a trained technician team.
His assessment covers the pattern of hair loss, the condition of the scalp and the amount of permanent donor hair available. This determines how many grafts can be taken without leaving the back and sides looking visibly depleted.
Dr Kalra also plans the treatment area, hairline position and graft distribution. During implantation, he controls the angle, depth and direction of the grafts placed with the Choi pen.
Before treatment is booked, patients are given a graft estimate, expected cost and a clear explanation of recovery and likely growth.
DHI normally uses the same individual graft-extraction method as FUE. The difference is the placement stage, where the prepared grafts are inserted with a Choi Implanter Pen.
Not always. The donor area usually needs trimming so the follicles can be identified and removed safely. The recipient area can sometimes be treated without being fully shaved.
DHI is not scar-free. Individual donor extraction leaves small round marks rather than the single linear scar associated with FUT.
The donor and recipient areas are numbed with local anaesthetic. Patients can feel the anaesthetic injections and some pressure or tenderness, but the scalp is numbed during the main procedure.
Early growth commonly begins around the third or fourth month. Coverage becomes clearer between six and nine months, with the result continuing to mature around the twelve-month point.
Yes, provided the donor supply and graft plan are suitable. Crown placement must follow the existing whorl and often requires careful planning because the area can need a substantial number of grafts.
Most patients with desk-based jobs return within a few days. Patients who prefer the early redness and scabbing to settle first may choose to take longer away from work.
Reviews give patients an idea of what to expect beyond the procedure itself. They often mention the consultation, how clearly everything was explained and the support provided after treatment.
The comments below were left for Harley Street Hair Transplants on Google. They cover the wider experience of using the clinic rather than DHI treatment alone.
“Great overall service.”
“Very satisfied with my results.”
“Great experience.”
