Each graft is placed directly with a Choi implanter pen, so the doctor controls angle and depth one hair at a time. It suits hairlines, density between existing hair and patients who want a partial-shaven or unshaven procedure.
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DHI is a refinement of FUE. Grafts are extracted the same way, one follicular unit at a time with a micro-punch, but each graft is then loaded into a Choi implanter pen and placed directly at the planned angle and depth. Several pens with different needle sizes rotate so needle size matches graft size. For a broader look at the method, read our DHI hair transplant guide.
| Procedure time | Typically 6–9 hours; unshaven sessions can take longer |
|---|---|
| Anaesthesia | Local anaesthesia, with light sedation if your doctor recommends it |
| Hospital stay | None — same-day return to your hotel |
| Recommended stay in Istanbul | 3 days (unshaven cases may need an extra day) |
| Shaving | Full shave, partial shave or unshaven — agreed in advance |
| Back to desk work | Usually 5–7 days |
| Exercise | Walking straight away; gym after about 2 weeks; swimming and contact sport after about 4 weeks |
| Shedding | Weeks 2–8 |
| New growth | From months 3–4 |
| Final result | 12–18 months |
| Results last | Transplanted follicles usually keep growing long term |
| Stitches | None |
Results from Vivid Clinic patients, shared with consent. Individual results vary. 5 cases shown; each caption states what the photos show and what is not recorded.
The public library does not record whether each case was DHI or FUE; the technique is shown as "hair transplant" until the clinic confirms it per case.
Before: Extensively receded hairline (Norwood-type recession). After: Lowered, denser hairline.
Vivid Clinic patient, shared with consent. Individual results vary; this is one case, not a promise of your outcome.
Before: Receded temples and thin frontal hair. After: Fuller frontal hairline.
Vivid Clinic patient, shared with consent. Individual results vary; this is one case, not a promise of your outcome.
Before: Receded hairline and thin frontal zone. After: Denser, lowered hairline.
Vivid Clinic patient, shared with consent. Individual results vary; this is one case, not a promise of your outcome.
Before: Receded hairline with pre-op hairline marking. After: Restored hairline and frontal density.
Vivid Clinic patient, shared with consent. Individual results vary; this is one case, not a promise of your outcome.
Before: Thin, receded frontal hair. After: Fuller frontal coverage.
Vivid Clinic patient, shared with consent. Individual results vary; this is one case, not a promise of your outcome.
Photos are unedited clinic composites; before and after photos may differ in lighting, clothing and pose. Consent is on file at the clinic.
Your doctor may also discuss finasteride or minoxidil to protect existing hair.
One of the main reasons patients choose DHI at Vivid Clinic is the option to keep their hair length. Your doctor confirms which option is realistic for your graft number and hair type.
Grafts are taken from small, scattered areas or trimmed individual hairs; the recipient area is not shaved. Suits smaller areas, hairline refinement and a quick return to work.
Only a band of the donor area is shaved, positioned so longer hair above falls over it. Grafts are placed between existing hairs in the unshaven recipient area.
The whole area is shaved, giving the team the clearest view and allowing the largest DHI sessions.
Women considering DHI will find more detail on our female hair transplant page.
A natural result depends more on design than on graft numbers. Single-hair grafts go at the very front in a slightly irregular pattern, with two- and three-hair grafts behind for density — always balanced against what your donor area can safely supply over a lifetime.
Hairline and zones drawn and agreed with you.
Shaving as planned; local anaesthesia.
Micro-punch removal, sorted under magnification.
Grafts loaded into Choi pens of matching size.
Each graft placed at the planned angle, direction and depth.
Donor area dressed; medication and aftercare kit.
Day 1
Your patient coordinator meets you at Istanbul airport and a VIP transfer takes you to your hotel, where you receive your schedule.
Day 2
Meet the doctor, confirm your hairline, shaving option and graft plan, and have routine blood tests. The procedure takes most of the day, with an interpreter or coordinator beside you. Back to the hotel in the evening.
Day 3
The team checks the grafts, removes the dressing, carries out the first wash and shows you how to wash at home. Most patients fly home the same day, with a 24/7 support line and online follow-ups.
Front, top, crown and donor area — our medical team recommends full, partial-shaven or unshaven DHI and builds your Istanbul plan. Free, no obligation.
Most visible signs settle within two weeks. See our hair transplant aftercare guide for day-by-day care.
The team shows you how to wash with gentle foam and no rubbing, so you can repeat it safely at home.
Grafts from the donor zone usually keep growing long term, while native hair may continue to thin with age. Final results depend on donor quality, hair characteristics, graft survival and aftercare, so no specific density can be promised.
In short: DHI is the precision choice for hairlines, temples and density between existing hair; FUE or sapphire FUE moves more grafts per day for large areas. Many plans combine both.
| DHI | FUE / sapphire FUE | |
|---|---|---|
| Implantation | Choi pen, channel and placement in one step | Channels opened first, grafts placed after |
| Shaving | Full, partial or unshaven | Usually full shave |
| Well suited to | Hairlines, temples, density between existing hair | Large areas, crown, big sessions |
| Grafts per day | Usually slightly fewer | Larger sessions possible |
| Recovery | Similar | Similar |
Comparing techniques for a larger area? See our FUE hair transplant Turkey page, or read how the whole trip works in our hair transplant Istanbul guide.
DHI hair transplant pricing in Turkey is often more affordable than in the UK, US or Western Europe. We give a personal quote only after the medical team reviews your photos — the consultation is free.
Typically covers:
Your price depends on
Compare your hairline and crown with the chart, then choose the closest stage. This is a typical range only; your doctor confirms your number after reviewing photos.
Tap the head that looks most like yours, or choose your Norwood stage below.
The specialists who work on DHI and FUE cases, currently at Avrasya Hospital in Istanbul.
Hair Transplant Specialist
Hair Transplant Specialist
Hair Transplant Specialist
The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery offers independent guidance on choosing a hair restoration provider.
A Norwood 3 hairline often needs somewhere around 1,800–2,800 grafts in a DHI hair transplant Istanbul plan, depending on how low and dense you want the hairline, your hair thickness and donor density. Send photos from the front, top, sides and back, and the Vivid Clinic medical team will give you a personal estimate before you book your trip.
Yes, an unshaven DHI hair transplant Istanbul procedure is possible for suitable patients, usually for the hairline or smaller areas. Grafts are placed between existing hairs, and extraction uses a hidden band or scattered small areas. Because it is slower, fewer grafts are placed per day, and some patients need an extra day. Your doctor confirms suitability after reviewing your photos.
Yes. DHI hair transplant Turkey procedures can treat the crown, but the crown’s swirl pattern and larger surface often need more grafts, so some doctors combine DHI at the front with FUE or sapphire FUE on the crown. The crown also tends to mature last, so allow 12–18 months before judging the final result.
A full-shave DHI hair transplant Istanbul session usually takes about six to nine hours, including breaks. Unshaven and partial-shaven procedures take longer because each graft is placed between existing hairs, and very large unshaven cases may be split over two days. You spend the night at your hotel and return for your check-up and first wash the next day.
After a DHI hair transplant Istanbul trip, most doctors advise avoiding tight hats for about 10 days, as pressure can dislodge fresh grafts. A loose, clean cap that does not touch the grafts may be allowed earlier for travel — ask your team for the exact guidance. Unshaven patients can often style their existing hair over the area instead.
After a DHI hair transplant Istanbul procedure, the tiny punch sites in the donor area usually crust over within a few days and close within about 7–10 days. Mild redness can last a few weeks. If the donor band was shaved, surrounding hair typically covers it again within a few weeks; your team checks healing at your follow-ups.
Sometimes. A DHI hair transplant Istanbul plan can suit women with a stable, well-defined thinning area and a healthy donor zone, often unshaven. Diffuse thinning across the whole scalp needs a diagnosis first, because the donor area may also be affected. See our female hair transplant page for details.
Before a DHI hair transplant Istanbul trip, your doctor reviews your medical history and may ask you to pause blood-thinning supplements, alcohol and smoking for a set period. Never stop prescribed medication without speaking to your own doctor first; the Vivid Clinic team sends written pre-travel instructions once your plan is confirmed.
Send a few clear photos of your hairline, top and donor area and tell us whether you would like to stay unshaven. It is free and there is no obligation.
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