DHI Hair Transplant

DHI and Long Hair transplant: grafts placed with an implanter, hairline visible on the day

DHI (Direct Hair Implantation) places grafts with a 0.6–0.8 mm implanter pen without pre-made recipient sites, controlling the angle, depth and direction of every hair. With the Long Hair technique, you see the designed hairline the moment the procedure is finished.

Medically reviewed by Asst. Prof. Dr. Borisut Sanmano (Thai Medical Licence 23173) · Last updated October 2026

Illustration: an implanter pen loaded with a graft, placing it into the scalp at a set angle and depth

How DHI differs from FUE

Both techniques harvest grafts from the back of the head in the same way, with a small punch. The difference is in the implantation step. FUE creates all the recipient sites first and then places the grafts with forceps. DHI loads each trimmed graft into a 0.6–0.8 mm implanter pen and places it into the scalp one at a time, creating the site and placing the graft in a single motion. Grafts therefore spend less time outside the body and are handled less. The doctor controls depth and angle finely enough to create a soft hairline and to implant between existing hairs without shaving the recipient area. The trade-off is a longer procedure (8–10 hours compared with 6–8 for FUE), and it suits moderate graft numbers rather than very large areas.

Who it suits

Anyone who wants a refined, natural hairline

The angle and direction of the front hairs matter most, and an implanter controls them better than placement with forceps

Implanting between existing hair

No need to shave the recipient area, with less disturbance to neighbouring follicles

Wanting to see the hairline before committing (Long Hair)

Uses grafts with 2–5 cm of hair, so the shape of the hairline is visible on the day. Suited to people with events or camera work ahead

Women with a high hairline

Neither the donor nor the recipient area needs shaving, so you return to normal life quickly

The procedure day (about 8–10 hours)

Hairline designThe hairline and density for each zone are planned with you, taking your age and likely future hair loss into account

No-shave harvestingSmall strips are trimmed within the donor zone, or grafts are harvested with long hair for the Long Hair technique. Local anaesthetic only

Sorting grafts under a microscope1-, 2- and 3-hair grafts are separated, excess tissue is trimmed, and each graft is loaded into the implanter

Placing grafts with the implanterThe doctor places each hair at 30–45 degrees following the direction of the existing hair, with single-hair grafts at the very front

Checking the hairline and dressingEvenness is checked and photographs taken; the donor area is bandaged and you receive medication and instructions, with a hair wash at the clinic the next day

Comparing our hair transplant techniques

Aspect	Nanotrim FUE™	DHI / Long Hair	PureCells™
Method	Sites created, then grafts placed	Placed with a 0.6–0.8 mm implanter	Micrograft injection, no grafts moved
Duration	6–8 hours	8–10 hours	About 1 hour
Shaving	Only strips in the donor zone trimmed	No shaving of the recipient area, or none at all (Long Hair)	None
Suited to	Large areas and high graft numbers	Hairline, implanting between hair, areas needing precision	Thinning hair with follicles still present
Full result	12–18 months	12–18 months (Long Hair shows the hairline from day one)	6–12 months

What happens after Long Hair

Procedure dayDesigned hairline visibleThe transplanted long hair shows the shape of the new hairline, with small scabs and redness around the roots

Weeks 2–6Transplanted long hairs shedThis is a normal stage. The follicles remain under the skin and new hair grows from them. Knowing this in advance means there is no cause for alarm

Months 3–6New hair growsFine and short at first, then gradually thicker

Month 12Full resultDensity is assessed and a second session planned if you wish

Limitations to know before choosing DHI

DHI does not necessarily give a higher graft survival than FUE; in experienced hands the rates are similar (mostly around 85–95%). Its advantages are hairline refinement and implanting between existing hair. It is not suited to large bald areas needing more than 3,000 grafts in one day, and anyone with unstable hair loss, scalp inflammation or an uncontrolled medical condition should have that treated first

Prices

DHI up to 1,000 grafts Partial hairline, eyebrows or scar coverage, including pre-procedure blood tests and take-home medication	From 79,000 THB
DHI up to 2,000 grafts Full hairline or wide forehead	From 99,000 THB
DHI up to 3,000 grafts Front and crown	From 109,000 THB
Long Hair (long-hair transplant) A supplement to the DHI price based on graft numbers; the doctor confirms the price after assessment	[ ]

The actual number of grafts is assessed from the scalp examination. The doctor confirms the exact price before booking

No-shave FUE hair transplant

Suited to larger areas and high graft numbers, with a shorter procedure

PureCells™ follicle-cell injection

Cares for the thinning existing hair around the transplanted area

Hair-loss treatment programme

Medication and treatments to protect existing hair in the long term

The information on this page is for educational purposes. Treatment plans and results depend on an individual assessment by the doctor.

Frequently Asked Questions

DHI or FUE: which should I choose?

If you want a refined hairline, implantation between existing hair or no shaving, DHI is the better fit. If the area is large and needs many grafts, FUE is more cost-effective and quicker. Many patients have both techniques on the same day. The doctor advises after the examination.

Does Long Hair really show the hairline from the day of the procedure?

You do see the shape of the hairline on the day, because the grafts carry long hair. Those hairs shed in weeks 2–6 and then regrow. The lasting result is fully visible at around 12 months, as with any other transplant technique.

Why does DHI take longer?

Because each graft is placed individually with the implanter, which must be reloaded every time, so the team works in finer detail. It generally takes 8–10 hours, with a lunch break.

When can I go back to work?

Most people return to work in 2–3 days. The small scabs around the grafts fall off in 7–10 days. With Long Hair, the transplanted hair helps camouflage the area from the first day.

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