DHI (Choi Implanter) Hair Transplant
The precise option for densification and no-shave procedures.
DHI is a method in which follicles are placed directly into the scalp with a fine-tipped implanter known as a Choi pen. Opening the channel and placing the graft are not two separate stages but a single movement. Grafts therefore spend less time outside the body, and placement can be made between existing hairs without damaging them. It comes into its own in cases requiring densification or a no-shave approach.
- Procedure time
- 6 – 9 hours
- Anaesthesia
- Local
- Back to social life
- Around day 7 (no-shave: sooner)
- Best for
- Densification and no-shave cases
Who is it for?
Suitable candidates
- Patients wanting to densify between existing hairs rather than cover a bald area
- Anyone who cannot have their hair shaved for social or professional reasons
- Correction of a high hairline or the temple points
- Small to medium areas where placement precision matters most
When it is not appropriate
- Very wide, fully bald areas needing a high graft count in one session
- Patients whose loss is still progressing and who have not had a medical assessment
- Uncontrolled diabetes, bleeding disorders or an active scalp infection
- Cases where the donor area cannot supply the density being asked for
Suitability is confirmed only after examination and blood tests. The information on this page is general and does not replace individual medical advice.
How it is done
- 01
Assessment and design
Existing hair direction is mapped and the placement plan is drawn accordingly.
- 02
Graft harvesting
Follicles are harvested one by one; with no-shave only a hidden donor strip is trimmed.
- 03
Loading the pen
Each graft is loaded into a Choi implanter under magnification.
- 04
Direct placement
Channel and placement happen in one movement, between existing hairs.
Recovery timeline
- Days 1–3
- Less swelling than FUE in most cases. The first wash is done at the clinic.
- Week 1
- Crusting is finer and, with no-shave, far less visible.
- Weeks 2–4
- Shock loss. Existing hairs in the area may also shed temporarily.
- Months 3–6
- Density starts to build between the existing hairs.
- Months 12–18
- The result matures and blends with the surrounding hair.
Frequently asked questions
Is DHI better than Sapphire FUE?
Neither is superior in the abstract. DHI places grafts between existing hairs and shortens the time grafts spend outside the body, which suits densification and no-shave work. Sapphire FUE moves more grafts in one session, which suits wide bald areas. The donor area and the target density decide.
What does no-shave actually mean?
Nothing is trimmed in the recipient area; only a hidden strip in the donor area is shaved and covered by the hair above it. Graft numbers are lower and the procedure runs longer, but the change is barely visible day to day.
Can DHI damage my existing hair?
The pen works between existing hairs, and temporary shedding of surrounding hairs can occur. Those hairs return. Permanent damage is a question of technique and graft density planning, which is why the placement map is drawn before anything begins.
Why does DHI take longer?
Each graft is loaded into the pen individually. That is what makes the placement precise, and it is also what makes the session longer than FUE for the same graft count.
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