Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE):
FUE is a newer, highly popular technique where the surgeon harvests individual follicular units directly from the donor area using tiny circular punch tools (typically 0.8 to 1 mm in diameter). Because it doesn’t require a scalpel incision, FUE avoids a large scar – instead, you get many tiny dot scars that are so small they’re hard to notice once healed. This makes it possible to wear your hair very short after surgery with minimal visible scarring.
Advantages: FUE is less invasive in terms of scarring and post-op discomfort. Recovery tends to be quicker; the donor area heals in days without the need for suture removal. It’s great for patients who want to keep short hair or only need a modest number of grafts. In fact, about two-thirds of hair transplant surgeries worldwide are now done with FUE.
Disadvantages: FUE can be more time-consuming and sometimes a bit more expensive per graft. If a very large number of grafts is needed, FUE might require shaving a big area of the donor scalp and possibly multiple sessions. Also, the quality of results heavily depends on surgeon skill to avoid over-harvesting donor hair (taking too many follicles from one area).
Direct Hair Implantation (DHI):
with FUE extraction. In DHI, the surgeon uses a specialized pen-like tool (such as the Choi implanter) to insert grafts directly into the scalp without pre-made incisions. The tool simultaneously creates a tiny channel and places the follicle in one motion.
Advantages: DHI allows very precise control of the depth, angle, and direction of each implanted hair, which can enhance the naturalness of the hairline. There is also minimal handling of the grafts (they go straight from donor to implanter pen into the scalp), potentially improving graft survival by up to ~15% since the follicles spend less time outside the body. It’s often used for smaller transplants or to add density in specific areas like the hairline or eyebrows.
Disadvantages: DHI can be more time-intensive and usually requires a highly skilled team. Because it’s slower, the number of grafts done in a day might be fewer than with standard FUE. It may also cost more than standard FUE due to the additional technology and training required. In summary, DHI is not a fundamentally different transplant method but rather a technique to implant FUE grafts with precision.
ADRIANA LOPEZ MD.
Specialised Hair Transplant surgeon.
