DHI Hair Transplant in Turkey — Complete Guide 2026
DHI hair transplant guide: Choi implanter pen technique, DHI vs FUE comparison, no-shave transplant option. From €1,720 all-inclusive at MedProper Istanbul.
Is it safe?
Your hospital holds the same JCI accreditation as Cleveland Clinic and Johns Hopkins. Verified by TEMOS for international patient safety.
Will the price change?
Your price is locked before you book. Surgery, hospital, hotel, transfers, aftercare — one number, no extras.
What if something goes wrong?
Mandatory insurance required by Turkish law. If a revision is needed — flights, hospital, surgeon — covered. You never pay twice.
Who's my surgeon?
Confirmed before you pay. Full credentials, specialisation, and patient results shared upfront. No last-minute switch.
What happens after I fly home?
24/7 WhatsApp with your coordinator. Scheduled video check-ups with your surgeon. 12 months, not 12 days.
Medical References
[1]Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (2023).FUE hair transplantation achieves a graft survival rate of 90-95% when performed by experienced surgeons, with natural-looking results visible at 12 months.doi:10.1111/jocd.15588
[2]Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (2022).DHI (Direct Hair Implantation) technique shows comparable density results to FUE with faster healing times and reduced scarring.doi:10.1007/s00266-022-02894-0
DHI Hair Transplant in Turkey: Complete Guide 2026
DHI (Direct Hair Implantation) is an advanced hair transplant technique that uses a specialised instrument called the Choi implanter pen to create the recipient channel and place the graft in a single motion. This eliminates the separate channel-creation step used in standard FUE, giving the surgeon more precise control over angle, depth, and direction of each individual graft.
DHI is particularly valued for hairline refinement, temple reconstruction, crown densification, and no-shave transplants — situations where precision matters more than raw graft volume. At MedProper Istanbul, DHI is performed by named, board-certified surgeons using single-use Choi pens in a JCI-accredited hospital environment.
DHI vs FUE: What Is the Difference?
The extraction phase is identical in both DHI and FUE — individual follicular units are harvested from the donor area using a micro-punch. The difference lies entirely in how grafts are implanted.
Feature
DHI (Choi Implanter Pen)
FUE (Pre-Made Channels)
Channel creation
Choi pen creates channel and places graft simultaneously
Surgeon creates channels first, then grafts are placed with forceps
Angle control
Surgeon controls angle at point of implantation
Angle set when channel is created (before graft insertion)
No-shave option
Yes — only the donor area needs shaving
Related Treatments
Frequently Asked Questions (8)
What is a DHI hair transplant?
DHI (Direct Hair Implantation) is a hair transplant technique that uses a Choi implanter pen to create the recipient channel and place the graft in one motion. It offers precise angle control and enables no-shave procedures. Graft extraction is identical to FUE.
How much does a DHI hair transplant cost in Turkey?
At MedProper Istanbul, DHI costs from £2,200 / $2,800 / €2,600 all-inclusive (up to 4,000 grafts). The price includes surgeon, hotel, transfers, PRP, medication, and 12-month aftercare. In the UK, DHI costs £10,000 to £14,000. In the USA, $12,000 to $17,000.
Is DHI better than FUE?
Neither is universally better — they excel at different things. DHI offers superior precision for hairline work, enables no-shave procedures, and implants grafts between existing hairs without damage. FUE handles higher graft counts more efficiently and costs less. Graft survival rates are equivalent (90-95%). Your surgeon will recommend the best technique for your specific case.
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Full head shaving usually required
Max grafts per session
Up to 4,000
Up to 4,500 (6,000 in Mega Session)
Procedure time
Longer per graft (6-8 hours for 3,000 grafts)
Faster per graft (6-8 hours for 4,000+ grafts)
Graft survival
90-95%
90-95%
Best for
Precision work, small areas, no-shave
Higher graft counts, full coverage
MedProper price
from £1,547 / $1,951 / €1,805
from £1,547 / $1,951 / €1,805
Bottom line: DHI and FUE produce equivalent graft survival rates and long-term results. DHI offers superior precision for targeted work and enables no-shave procedures. FUE handles higher graft counts more efficiently and costs less. Your surgeon will recommend the optimal technique based on your specific hair loss pattern, graft needs, and preferences.
How the Choi Implanter Pen Works
The Choi implanter pen is a hollow, pen-shaped instrument with a fine needle at the tip (0.5-1.0mm diameter). The implantation process works as follows:
A loaded graft is placed into the hollow needle of the Choi pen by a trained assistant.
The surgeon positions the pen against the recipient scalp at the precise angle, depth, and direction required.
With a single click of the pen mechanism, the needle penetrates the skin (creating the channel) and simultaneously deploys the graft into the channel.
The pen is withdrawn, leaving the graft perfectly positioned.
This one-step process means the graft spends less time outside a protected environment. In FUE, the channel is created first, and the graft is placed afterwards — introducing a brief but measurable delay between channel creation and graft placement. DHI eliminates this gap.
Multiple Choi pens are used simultaneously (typically 6-8 pens loaded in rotation) to maintain workflow efficiency. While one pen is being used by the surgeon, others are being loaded by the assisting team.
When to Choose DHI Over FUE
DHI is recommended when:
You need a no-shave transplant. DHI can implant grafts between existing hairs without shaving the recipient area. Only the donor area (back and sides) is trimmed. This is valuable for patients who want to return to work within days without visible evidence of a procedure.
You need hairline refinement. The frontal hairline requires the most precise angle control — hairs must exit the scalp at 15-25° angles, pointing forward, with varying density from the front edge to the mid-scalp. DHI's one-step placement gives the surgeon direct control of these parameters for each individual graft.
You need crown densification among existing hair. DHI can implant grafts between existing hairs without damaging them. In FUE, creating pre-made channels in an area with existing hair carries a small risk of transecting (cutting) nearby follicles.
You need temple point reconstruction. The temples require very precise directional control — hairs grow almost flat against the skin. DHI handles this better than pre-made channels.
Your graft count is 1,500-3,000. DHI is most efficient and precise at lower-to-moderate graft counts.
FUE is recommended when:
You need 3,500+ grafts. FUE handles high graft counts more efficiently because the pre-made channel method allows faster implantation speed.
You have advanced hair loss (Norwood 5-6). The large recipient area benefits from FUE's higher volume capacity, or a Mega Session.
Budget is a priority. FUE costs £550 / $700 less than DHI at MedProper.
Many patients combine both:
MedProper surgeons sometimes use DHI for the frontal hairline (where precision is critical) and FUE for the mid-scalp and crown (where volume is more important than individual graft placement). This hybrid approach delivers the best of both techniques. Pricing is discussed during the consultation.
DHI No-Shave Transplant
One of DHI's most significant advantages is the ability to perform a no-shave (or partial-shave) hair transplant. Here is how it works:
Standard transplant: The entire head is shaved to 1-2mm. This makes extraction and implantation easier and faster, but the patient's hair loss and the procedure itself are visible for 2-3 weeks until hair grows back.
DHI no-shave transplant: Only the donor area is shaved (back and sides). The recipient area retains its existing hair at full length. The surgeon implants grafts between existing hairs using the Choi pen, which can navigate between longer hairs without damaging them.
Benefits:
Return to work and social situations within 3-5 days
No visible evidence of the procedure to colleagues or friends
Existing hair conceals redness and crusting during the healing period
Limitations:
Slightly longer procedure time (the surgeon must navigate between existing hairs)
Maximum graft count may be lower than a fully-shaved procedure
Not suitable for advanced hair loss where the recipient area has very little existing hair to conceal the grafts
MedProper DHI no-shave price: from £1,547 / $1,951 / €1,805 all-inclusive (same price as standard DHI).
DHI Procedure: Step by Step
Step 1 — Consultation and hairline design. Your surgeon assesses your hair loss, discusses your goals, and draws the proposed hairline or densification map while you sit upright. You approve the plan before the procedure begins.
Step 2 — Donor preparation. The donor area (back and sides) is trimmed to 1-2mm. For no-shave DHI, only the donor area is shaved — the rest of the head retains its existing hair.
Step 3 — Local anaesthesia. Needle-free comfort anaesthesia is applied to both donor and recipient areas. The procedure is completely painless once anaesthesia takes effect.
Step 4 — Graft extraction. Individual follicular units are extracted from the donor area using a micro-punch (identical to the FUE extraction method). Grafts are sorted and stored in chilled holding solution.
Step 5 — Choi pen implantation. The surgeon loads each Choi pen with a graft and implants it directly into the recipient area at the precise angle, depth, and direction. Multiple pens rotate in sequence (6-8 at a time) to maintain workflow efficiency. Single-hair grafts are placed at the hairline edge. Multi-hair grafts are placed behind for density.
Step 6 — Post-operative care. Aftercare instructions, medication, and follow-up scheduling. The recipient area requires gentle handling for 10 days. A protective headband is provided.
Total procedure time: 5 to 7 hours for 1,500-2,500 grafts. 7 to 9 hours for 3,000-4,000 grafts.
DHI Recovery Timeline
Timeline
What to Expect
Day 1
Mild redness in donor and recipient areas. Numbness fades within hours. No significant pain.
Days 2-3
Post-op check at clinic. First gentle wash demonstration. Possible mild forehead swelling (resolves in 2-3 days).
Days 4-7
Tiny crusts around each graft. Donor area healing rapidly. For no-shave patients, existing hair conceals most visible evidence.
Days 7-10
Crusts shed during daily washing. Donor area fully healed. Recipient area slightly pink. Safe to return to work.
Yes. DHI is the only technique that reliably enables no-shave transplants. Only the donor area (back and sides) is trimmed. The recipient area retains its existing hair at full length, concealing the procedure. The no-shave DHI price at MedProper is the same as standard DHI: from £2,200 / $2,800.
How many grafts can DHI do in one session?
DHI can transplant up to 4,000 grafts in a single session at MedProper. For patients needing more than 4,000 grafts, FUE or a Mega Session (up to 6,000 grafts) is recommended. Alternatively, a hybrid approach (DHI for the hairline, FUE for the crown) can combine precision with volume.
Is DHI more painful than FUE?
No. Both techniques use the same local anaesthesia protocol. The extraction phase is identical. The implantation phase with the Choi pen feels the same as forceps placement. Post-operative discomfort is equivalent.
How long does a DHI procedure take?
5 to 7 hours for 1,500-2,500 grafts. 7 to 9 hours for 3,000-4,000 grafts. DHI is slightly slower per graft than FUE due to the one-at-a-time loading of the Choi pen, but this additional time buys greater precision.
When will I see DHI results?
The timeline is identical to FUE: shock loss at weeks 2-4, new growth from month 3, noticeable density at months 6-8, full result at 12 months.
