For men and women around the world suffering from hair loss, the prospect of a permanent, natural solution is truly tantalising. While there are several options out there for slowing – and occasional even reversing – hair loss, nearly all of these are short-term solutions whose effects will disappear once treatment is stopped.
For people seeking a permanent solution to hair loss, the only available treatment is a hair transplant. The field of hair restoration surgery has made leaps and bounds in the last decade and is now available to nearly any patient. One of the most recent advances has been the creation of the Choi Implanter Pen for use in a Direct Hair Implantation (DHI) hair transplant.
What Is A DHI Implanter Pen?
First developed in 1992 at Kyungpook National University in South Korea, the Choi Implanter pen has been in wide use there for decades. As the name may suggest, the Implanter Pen looks rather like a small pen. The hairs from the recipient site are extracted individually before being placed into the pen, which stores them in a small, hollow needle. These grafts are then implanted directly into the recipient area without the need for incisions.
How Is A DHI Transplant Done?
Much like other hair transplant techniques, the first step in a DHI hair transplant is a comprehensive consultation with a hair restoration specialist. During your free consultation, the details of your hair transplant will be agreed upon by you and your doctor. These include the number of hair grafts needed, the coverage of the recipient area, the location of the donor area, and more. Once you and your doctor have agreed upon the specifics, the actual procedure can begin.
To begin, it is typically necessary to shave the donor area. This area is most commonly located at the back of the head and is chosen so as to be hidden by the remaining hair (note that it is possible to perform a DHI transplant without shaving, however, shaving is generally advised). The donor area should be completely hidden by the remaining hair after the procedure. Next comes the extraction and implantation process. Before extraction, both the donor and recipient sites are anaesthetised using “soft” needleless anaesthesia. For most patients, we also offer general sedation. All sedation and anaesthetisation procedures are fully optional.
A team of hair restoration surgeons then carefully extracts the hair follicles one by one from the donor area before immediately implanting them into the Choi Implanter Pen. This pen is then handed to the surgeon who will implant the hair in the precise location where it is needed most. These hair grafts are inserted directly into the recipient area one at a time, the pen is removed, and the next graft is implanted. A typical DHI procedure requires anywhere from 2-6 Choi Implanter Pens and about 15 needles.
Throughout the procedure, your surgeon will take great care to implant the hair follicles at 40-45° as this angle typically matches the natural angle and direction of hair growth and provide a full, natural result.
What Are The Advantages Of DHI Hair Transplantation?
The benefits of a DHI hair transplantation include:
- The extracted hair follicles require much less time outside of the body, allowing for far greater survival rates of transplanted hair follicles.
- Since there is no need for incisions (unlike FUE transplants) the risk of bleeding at the recipient site is greatly diminished.
- The grafts undergo significantly less trauma during the procedure, leading to healthier final results.
- DHI allows for faster post-operative recovery, allowing you to resume normal activities sooner than other hair restoration treatments.
- The recipient site does not require shaving prior to operation making DHI the perfect choice for patients with longer hair.
DHI Implants At Our Clinic
The Dr Serkan Aygin Clinic is a world leader in the use of DHI Implanter Pens. Dr Aygin has assisted over 15,000 clients over his 25-year career and has achieved a hair regrowth rate of 98%. Named the “Best Medical Tourism Facility” By La Razon in 2019, our clinic is located in one of Istanbul’s premier hospitals, giving us access to the newest, most cutting-edge technologies. Contact us today to schedule your full, free consultation.
