Over 85 percent of men will have hair loss by the age of 50. Over 50 percent of women will experience noticeable hair loss during their lifetime.
There are many hair transplant procedures that can be used to regrow hair. The most popular techniques are follicular units transplantation (FUT), and follicular un extraction (FUE).
FUT is when a surgeon removes hair follicles from your scalp by cutting a piece of hair from the back. FUE is when a surgeon takes out follicles from your scalp. Both surgeries involve the implanting of follicles into the balding areas of your scalp.
Direct hair implantation (DHI), a modification to the FUE technique, was created by DHI Global Medical Group.
FUE is a procedure where a surgeon cuts channels into your scalp to implant hair follicles. DHI is performed with a pen-shaped tool that allows them to do both.
Let’s take a look at DHI surgery. To help you choose the right option for you, we’ll compare it with FUT and FUE.
The DHI hair transplant procedure is a modified FUE hair implantation. The surgeon will take hair follicles out of a portion of your scalp (usually the back) and place them in balding areas. These hair follicles eventually will grow new hairs.
Here are some things you can expect to do during the procedure.
The surgeon will trim your hair and administer local anesthesia to the area.
A fine-tipped tool will be used by the surgeon to extract hair follicles.
The hair follicles are loaded into a pen-shaped instrument and placed in the balding area of your scalp.
The surgeon will apply an antibiotic cream to the affected areas and a bandage.
FUE and DHI surgery usually take around 8 hours. However, the exact time will vary depending on how many hair follicles are being treated. The full results can take between 12 and 18 months.
Androgenic alopecia is the most common type. These people are the best candidates to have hair implantations. This condition is also known as male- or female-pattern hair loss.
These characteristics make you a great candidate for hair transplantation.
Age. Persons who have hair implants must be at least 25 years old. It is more common to lose hair before this age.
Hair diameter. Thicker hair is more likely to achieve the best results than those with thinner hair. A thicker hair provides more coverage to each hair follicle.
Donor hair density. Patients with hair density less than 40 follicles/square centimeter at the donor site are not suitable for hair transplants.
Hair color. The best results are often achieved by people with lighter hair or hair that is close to their skin color.
Expectations. Realistic expectations will lead to more contentment.
FUE, DHI, and FUT involve taking hair follicles from one area of the scalp and implanting them in balding areas.
A surgeon will remove a narrow, long strip of skin from your back during FUT surgery. Each hair follicle is removed and placed along your hairline. Although this is the fastest and most cost-effective, it can leave a large scar. If your hair is short, the scar might be visible. However, longer hair will hide it.
Individual hair follicles can be removed from the scalp during FUE and DHI surgeries. FUE is a procedure where a surgeon cuts canals in the scalp to insert hair follicles. These incisions can be made and the hair implanted simultaneously using the DHI technique.
FUE and DHI avoid long scarring from FUT. However, these procedures are generally more costly and take longer.
DHI is claimed by companies that offer it as a hair treatment. There haven’t been studies that compare DHI to other hair treatments.
FUE surgery is a successful option for hair loss. There is some debate over whether FUT or FUE are more effective.
The majority of hair transplants are safe and do not cause any complications. FUE and DHI are less invasive than FUT, as they don’t require a surgeon for a long strip of skin to be removed.
Although FUE is often referred to as a non-scarring procedure, there are still small scarring from individual follicles being removed. These scars are rarely noticeable.
These are some possible complications of DHI surgery.
Anesthesia can cause a negative reaction
Local anesthesia is applied to the scalp during DHI to numb it. Although anesthesia is generally safe, it can cause adverse reactions in some individuals.
Most reactions are triggered by fear or anxiety, and not from a reaction to anesthesia.
Infection
An infection can occur at either the donor site or the location where the hair follicles were implanted. In less than 1% of hair implantations, serious infections occur.
Shock hair loss
Within 2 months after surgery, shock hair loss may occur. This refers to temporary hair loss at hair transplant site. A complete recovery can be expected to take between 3 and 4 months.
Undesired appearance
The grafted hair follicles should be aligned so that they look like your natural hair growth. Badly placed follicles can result in a look that isn’t pleasing.
Before you decide to have surgery, research the surgeons in your local area. This will ensure that you get the best results. To help you make the right decision, check out the before-and-after outcomes of past clients.
Other complications
Hair transplant surgery can also cause complications.
bleeding
dizziness
Pain
Increased heart rate
Inflammation of hair follicles
The donor site is sparsely represented
Scarring
DHI Global has estimated that a DHI session in London, Athens or Dubai will cost between $3,250 to $13,500.
Cost of a hair transplant will vary depending on where it is performed, what clinic you visit and how much hair is being implanted. Because DHI is considered cosmetic surgery, most insurance companies won’t cover it.
You might consider moving to a lower cost location or reducing how many hair follicles are being transplanted to reduce costs.
There are many alternatives to hair transplantation:
minoxil (Rogaine).
finasteride (Propecia)
Low-level laser therapy
DHI is a modified form of FUE hair implantation. Although there isn’t any research on DHI, all FUE surgeries have the potential of treating hair loss due to male or female patternbaldness.
Hair implantation surgery is expensive. You can also try Rogaine and finasteride tablets if you don’t want to go under the needle.
