DHI Hair Transplant | Dr Erkam Caymaz Hair Transplant Turkey

DHI (Direct Hair Implantation) uses Choi implanter pens to create recipient sites and place grafts in one motion, often described as FUE harvest plus implanter-based placement rather than a wholly separate extraction science. Labels vary across clinics, but the workflow matters: simultaneous channel creation and implantation can suit partial unshaven cases and tight zones when team training is solid. Sapphire slit workflows for broad coverage are detailed on our Sapphire FUE hair transplant page when channel geometry drives the plan.

When you are deciding between pens and pre-made channels, the DHI vs Sapphire FUE guide maps zone-by-zone trade-offs so you can match tool choice to hairline, crown, or partial unshaven goals instead of picking a marketing label.

Harvest mechanics shared by both paths are summarized on our Sapphire FUE hair transplant overview, which explains motorized-punch extraction before either sapphire slits or Choi pens enter the workflow.

How the Choi implanter pen works

Unlike classic FUE where channels are pre-made then filled, DHI combines site creation and graft insertion using a hollow needle connected to a tube and plunger. Grafts are loaded into the pen, inserted at roughly 40–45 degrees, and deployed with a plunger press, hence the Choi method name.

DHI procedure steps

1. Harvested grafts are loaded into the implanter pen by trained staff.
2. The graft sits in the hollow needle at the pen tip until the surgeon positions the device.
3. The surgeon inserts the needle at the planned angle, creates the site, and implants with the plunger.
4. Procedures typically rotate multiple pens and needle sizes (often 2–6 pens and 15–16 needles) to match graft caliber.

Advantages and limits of DHI

Advantages cited in the literature and experienced teams include shorter out-of-body time per graft when workflow is tight, reduced bleeding during recipient work, optional partial unshaven recipient zones, and careful handling when angles are controlled.

• Simultaneous site creation and placement can limit handling steps for selected grafts.
• Recipient areas may remain partially unshaven when the clinical plan supports it.
• Teams with long training cycles can achieve strong survival when loading discipline is consistent.

Limits include slower throughput at high graft counts, higher device and training overhead, and operator fatigue in tight fields, reasons many clinics pair DHI with sapphire FUE rather than forcing one label for every zone.

• High graft sessions can extend out-of-body time if pen loading becomes the bottleneck.
• Curly or fine hair may need needle size matching and experienced loaders, early Choi studies noted ethnic hair caliber differences.
• Cost and staffing intensity exceed basic FUE when pens are used for full-scalp coverage.

Candidacy and technique choice

Not every patient is ideal for pen-only implantation across the entire scalp. Modern needle sizes and team training expanded candidacy beyond early Asian-hair studies, but technique still follows donor quality, zone goals, and whether you need density between existing hairs. Dr. Erkam Caymaz selects DHI or sapphire FUE after consultation, not from marketing defaults.

When labels overlap, our DHI vs Sapphire FUE comparison clarifies how shared extraction steps branch into either implantation workflow so you can ask sharper questions during a video or in-person consult.

The DHI vs Sapphire FUE pillar compares pen and slit tools by recipient zone, hairline reinforcement, crown coverage, or partial unshaven work, rather than declaring one method the default for every pattern.

Operation-day sequencing, from numbing through first wash briefing, is outlined in hair transplant procedure steps, which mirrors what VIP patients review once travel dates and graft ranges are confirmed.

Session length, donor rules, and typical Istanbul stay windows appear on hair transplant information for patients building a calendar around surgery, medications, and the first wash appointment before flying home.