Hair loss is a prevalent concern for millions of people. By the age of 35 to 40, two-thirds of men experience noticeable hair loss, deeply affecting their self-esteem. The advancements in hair restoration methods have significantly improved the treatment of hair loss nowadays. There are many options for hair restoration, and one of the most advanced and desired methods available today is Direct Hair Implantation, or DHI. DHI uses a direct and minimally invasive approach to restoring hair's complete, natural look.
DHI sets a new benchmark for the excellence of permanent hair implantation and the surgical excellence to implant hair follicles. This blog will take you through the details of DHI, including how DHI works and all the advantages of the hair restoration technique.
Understanding DHI (Direct Hair Implantation)
Direct Hair Implantation (DHI) is a new process to transplant hair follicles into a recipient site in the head. DHI differentiates itself from older methods by combining the procurement (extraction) process with the placement into one process.
Many older procedures have two steps: removing the hair follicle and placing it back on the scalp, or some variation thereof. DHI combines these two steps and performs them as one continuous procedure.
The surgical device in DHI is called the DHI Implanter Pen. It allows the doctor to:
- Hold the hair follicle,
- Create a small opening into the scalp,
- Place the hair in the scalp,
- All at the same time.
The benefit of having fewer steps in the DHI procedure allows the hair follicle less time outside the body. The shorter time allows the hair follicle a higher chance of survival and healthy development.
With traditional methods, like FUE (follicular unit extraction) the doctor first makes several small cuts in the scalp, and then proceeds to place the hairs manually, which takes longer, and may potentially create even more stress to the scalp.
There is no wait time with DHI; it is quicker and generally less stressful for the scalp. DHI also allows for lower contact to the scalp, meaning the doctor has better control over the process and allows for natural-looking results.
The DHI Hair Implantation Procedure Explained
The DHI process is carefully orchestrated. It all begins with the individual extraction of hair follicles from the donor zone, or the back of the head, using a special device that has a diameter of 1 mm or less.
Extraction: This is indeed a long procedure that takes a minimum of 6 to 8 hours. The surgeon, using their expertise, selects strong and healthy follicles, one at a time, to remove. Once follicles are removed, before being held for an extended time, the surgeon prepares each one for implantation. This is a very important stage because ultimately the survival rates of the grafts depend on how well they were prepared.
Implantation: The essence of the procedure is the DHI Implanter Pen. The surgeon places each prepared follicle into the implanter pen and directly implants it into the recipient area. The pen allows the surgeon to control the depth, angle, and direction of each implanted hair, closely matching the direction and pattern of the patient's original hair.
Recovery: After the procedure, post-procedure care is very important for recovery. The patients are given stepwise instructions on what to do with their scalp, such as how to wash and when to avoid exercise, to help ensure that the newly transplanted follicles become established and grow.
Benefits of DHI Hair Implantation
One of the main benefits of DHI is that it produces natural-looking results. Other benefits include:
Natural Results
- The DHI Implanter Pen gives surgeons fine-tuned control over the angle, direction and depth of each hair implanted.
- This closely aligns the implanted hair with the nature of your growth patterns.
- Research shows that DHI has an approximate 97% "natural" density compared to traditional FUE which is ~85-90%.
Minimally Invasive Procedure
- No scalpels, no stitches → no wounds, almost no visible scarring.
- Less trauma to the scalp → a safer, gentler surgical procedure.
- Once again, while everyone's experience will be different, clinical reviews suggest that DHI patients report approximately 40% less discomfort, compared to strip surgery procedures.
Comfortable, Painless Procedure
- Local anaesthetic means the DHI procedure is almost completely painless.
- Additionally, the Implanter Pen's soft and easy motion is incredibly comfortable for patients.
- In survey results, over 90% of DHI patients recognized the procedure as "comfortable and pain-free."
Faster Recovery, Less Downtime
- No large wounds = Less recovery time.
- Everybody heals differently, but we typically refer to our patients who could engage in their daily non-work-related activities 1-2 days post surgery.
- DHI recovery is typically 50% faster than historic FUT techniques.
Higher Graft Survival Rate
- Follicles will have spent less time outside of the body should improve the survival rate of grafts.
- The approximate graft survival rate with DHI is 90%-95%, with average graft survival for older techniques of 75%-85%.
Original Hairline Design
- While the final design is subject to your surgeon's skill & experience, DHI gives the surgeon the tools to establish a fully natural and custom hairline.
- The surgeon will be able to define the density, shape and flow of the implanted hair.
Ideal Candidates for DHI Hair Implantation
Not everyone who's facing hair loss is appropriate for DHI Hair Implantation. This is an advanced, flexible hair restoration option, but some conditions will generally make one a better candidate than others.
Age & Stability
Best for individuals who are experiencing stabilized hair loss (typically in their late 20s or above).
Good Donor Hair
Need to have good density to the hair follicles in the donor area (at the back or side of the head).
- Men with male-patterned baldness (MPB) patterns (receding hairlines or bald patches)
- Women with thinning in their crowns or overall thinning hair
Versatile Age Range - Can be done on late teens to older adults (as long as donor hair is available).
- Those Looking For Naturally Appearing Results - Patients who want a natural-looking hairline and custom density.
- Those Looking for A Short Recovery Time - Those with busy lifestyles due to minimal downtime.
Potential Candidates
- Those with rapid loss of hair and/or unstable loss of hair (may have to wait for hair loss to stabilize).
- Sparsely populated donor areas (not enough healthy follicles for a transplant).
- People with certain health conditions (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes, autoimmune disorders).
Comparing DHI to Other Hair Implantation Techniques
To assist you with making the most informed decision about your hair restoration adventure, it's important to understand the notable differences between the top hair implantation procedures.
