Direct Hair Implantation (DHI): The Insider’s Guide to the Process, Perks, and Results
A very common problem affecting the worldwide population along with men and women is hair loss, which in turn affects their self-esteem and quality of life. Day by day, with the advancement of medical technology, there have been several hair restoration procedures developed to solve this problem. One of these methods is called Direct Hair Implantation (DHI) which is a quite recent type of hair restoration that is getting huge attention. The aim of this DHI technique is primarily accurate and natural-looking result, thereby making it one of the procedures that people are most inclined to use in hair transplants. The article discusses in detail the hair implantation method, called Direct Hair Implantation (DHI), and explores the benefits, comparison with other techniques, recovery process, and long-term outcomes of this method.
The technique of Direct Hair Implantation (DHI) is one of the latest approaches to hair transplantation wherein hair follicles are directly inserted into the scalp without needing to perform any incisions or slits. The method is a variant of the Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) technique with the main point of distinction being the insertion of hair. In complete contrast to the traditional FUE method where hair follicles are extracted from the donor area (usually the back or sides of the head), and small incisions are created in the recipient area to insert the follicles, DHI makes no incisions. A patented device from a different company that produces the Choi Implanter Pen is what obviously DHI procedure requires. The action of the device is the insertion of hair follicles into the scalp directly, without any injuries like in cuts that may come as a result of pushing the needle too fast. So, in this way, the direct hair implantation is the least damaging to the scalp and also the quickest to heal with nearly no scarring left.
First of all, the DHI procedure starts with a consultation wherein the patient’s hair loss pattern is observed by the (hair) surgeon. The surgeon checks both the donor area and the recipient area to make sure that the patient is fit for the procedure. Moreover, issues regarding health conditions, hair density, and in general, the appropriateness of the patient for the surgery are also considered. Once a decision is made, the patient will be instructed on how to take care of herself before the procedure, which may include an average of avoiding some medicines and substances like alcohol or tobacco. On the day of the surgery, the patient is given local anesthesia to make sure he/she will be comfortable throughout the procedure. Unlike other hair transplant techniques that may have general anesthesia as a prerequisite, DHI is performed on local anesthesia, which not only makes the procedure less traumatic but also quicker in comparison.
Subsequently, the extraction process is done, by which hair follicles are taken from the donor area. A micromotor and a manual punch tool are traditionally used for this purpose. With full control of these tools, the surgeon is capable of extracting single follicles without the risk of causing a lot of injury to the surrounding tissue. After that, the follicles taken were kept in a holding solution at a controlled temperature until they were grafted to the scalp. The most important part of the DHI method can be found in the process of implantation. As the surgeon has the hair follicles after extraction, he/she allows the Choi Implanter Pen to set up the hair follicles individually to the area that receives the hair. The pen provides an advantage in that it can control the depth, angle, and even the direction of the implanted follicles, thus, positioning them in a way that is in line with the natural gro…
Upon completion of the procedure, the patient is handed a list of the necessary measures for the post-operative care. These instructions would mostly contain issues like how to take care of the scalp and hair in the initial period of recovery in the most detailed form. Patients might have swelling, redness, or slight discomfort, but these symptoms usually disappear within a few days. DHI rehabilitation is quite fast, and for this reason, in comparison with other methods of hair transplantation, it is preferable. Most men and women can be back to their usual everyday life within a few days; however, it is recommended that they abstain from hard exercise and direct sun exposure. Regular check-ups are usually scheduled to assess the progress of healing and confirm that the transplanted follicles are growing well.
Direct Hair Implantation has a variety of profiting features that make this method a preferred choice for someone in need of hair restoration. Highlighted among the numerous positives in using DHI, one can never overlook precision. Choi Implanter Pen, an implantation tool, allows the operator outstanding control over the angle, depth, and position of each grafted hair unit, which leads to a natural look of the end result. Such precision in the operation allows the physician to perform the surgery so subtly that even the nearest ones of the one who is taking the treatment will not realize it. In addition to the aforementioned, it should also be stressed that while DHI gives optimal results, it does leave minimal scarring when compared to conventional methods. The absence of incisions or slits in the recipient area admittedly does lessen the chance of seeing any scar tissue, therefore, DHI is the one for the patients who are desiring not to receive any visible scars. Moreover, the recovery time is much faster, the procedure being only minimally invasive, more so that there is less scalp trauma, and thus, recovery time is significantly quicker.
DHI also comes with the added benefit of not needing to shave the donor area. The extraction of the hair is done in the traditional way, i.e., only the donor area needs to be shaven to perform the procedure. Still, in many cases DHI is feasible without shaving, which is a situation that is favorable for people who would rather keep long hair or for people who do not want to reveal their hair loss. Besides, DHI guarantees not only permanent but also long-lasting result. The hair is taken from the donor area which is genetically programmed to last a lifetime, so the growth will undoubtedly be natural for the rest of the patient’s life.
DHI is different from FUE and FUT in many respects such as the tools used, and the number of sessions and the respective recovery time. DHI and FUE are minimally invasive techniques used to extract the follicles, yet DHI is set apart by its implantation technique. FUE employs the recipient area by making the incisions for the implanted hair with tiny cuts, while DHI uses the Choi Implanter Pen to place the follicles directly without cutting. In this way, scalp trauma is reduced, and recovery is faster. DHI also provides the patient with better knowledge about how each follicle will be placed, and consequently, the result is more natural. For example, a person can get the hair back through weld grafts and the hairline.
When we look at the FUT and DHI hair transplantation methods, it is obvious that DHI has an incredible advantage over FUT concerning the scarring that may occur. Throughout FUT, the surgeon takes a long strip of skin with hair follicles from the back of the head (known as the donor area) and collects it for transplantation, leaving a straight scar, which can be visible if the patient chooses short hairstyles. In contrast, DHI is the least invasive of all surgeries and does not require the taking of the strip of the skin and so there is almost no scarring, which makes it even more attractive to those who don’t want to have any visible scars. In addition to this, there is a case of FUT that needs a much longer period of recovery due to larger incisions made in the donor area.
Once DHI has been chosen, there are many benefits to this option, but it is still necessary for patients to be realistic in their expectations and know that the final results of the procedure will not be visible immediately and that it may take some time. Immediately after the transplant, some of the transplanted hairs may fall out as part of the natural shedding process. Yet, the condition is transient and the growth of new hair usually begins within a few months. A complete effect from the DHI surgery is commonly reached after 12-18 months, and the hairline appears to be fuller and more natural with transplanted hair.
To sum up, Direct Hair Implantation (DHI) is a good-hair restoration method which is highly effective and least painful in terms of the procedure it puts the patient through that offers so many benefits such as less invasive, more precise, no scars, quick recovery time, and results lasting for a long time. The use of the Choi Implanter Pen in direct hair transplantation gives an individual who has lost hair, or thinning hair, or has a receding hairline a chance to look natural and feel confident every day, thus new DHI is chosen by the patients as the most effective solution the doctor can propose. Of course, participating in the surgical treatment with a talented and qualified surgeon is the most important point for patients in order to expect the best outcome and realize the results they have always in mind.
