Every procedure at Hair Transplant Newcastle is performed by a GMC-registered doctor from first extraction to last graft
Our clinic sits at the heart of Newcastle, a short walk from Central Station and accessible from across the North East
A straight-talking assessment of your hair loss and what is realistically achievable, no hard sell
Your surgeon is committed to your procedure for the entire day, no switching between patients mid-session
Before and After DHI Hair Transplant Results in Newcastle
A selection of results from patients treated at our Newcastle clinic. All procedures were performed by our GMC-registered surgeons.
Direct Hair Implantation uses the same extraction method as FUE but changes the way grafts are placed. Instead of creating recipient sites first and placing follicles into them separately, the DHI technique uses a Choi Implanter Pen to carry out both steps at once. Each graft is loaded into the pen and implanted directly, which gives the surgeon precise control over the angle, depth, and direction of every follicle placed.
That precision matters most in specific clinical situations, and it is why DHI is the preferred technique for certain cases at Hair Transplant Newcastle, while FUE remains the standard for others.
DHI Hair Transplant in Newcastle
Dr Aziz Elgindi (GMC: 7450896) and Dr Mohammed Ditta (GMC: 7084372) carry out DHI procedures at our Newcastle city centre clinic. Both have worked with a wide range of patients from across the North East, including those who have already had one transplant and are seeking additional density in areas where existing hair is still present.
The Cloth Market clinic is well located for patients travelling from Sunderland, Durham, Middlesbrough, and further afield.
When DHI Is the Right Technique
DHI is not universally better than FUE. It excels in a specific scenario: adding density into an area where hair already exists.
In standard FUE, recipient channels are created first. In an area with existing hair, this process risks damaging those hairs. The Choi pen, by combining channel creation and graft placement into one motion, significantly reduces that risk. The result is that new follicles can be placed between existing hairs without disrupting them.
For patients with crown thinning, where some hair remains but density has dropped, or for those wanting to increase hairline density without a full reconstruction, DHI offers an advantage FUE cannot match in those specific cases.
For full hairline restorations from scratch, large-scale procedures, or cases involving significant donor area coverage, standard FUE is usually more efficient and equally effective.
The DHI Procedure: What Actually Happens
The session follows a structured sequence:
- Local anaesthetic: Applied to both donor and recipient areas before work begins
- Donor extraction: Individual follicular units removed from the back and sides of the scalp using the same fine punch tool as FUE
- Graft assessment: Each follicle is checked under magnification and sorted by follicular unit size
- Loading and rotation: Two to three technicians load grafts into Choi Implanter Pens. Approximately three pens are in rotation at all times
- Direct implantation: The surgeon places each graft directly into the scalp, controlling angle, depth, and density placement simultaneously
Because each graft spends minimal time outside the body, the out-of-body time is typically shorter than in standard FUE. This can contribute to improved graft survival rates in some cases.
DHI Recovery Timeline
Recovery after DHI follows the same sequence as FUE. The recipient area requires careful management during the first week.
Saline spray every 30 minutes on the first day, gentle washing from day three, normal water pressure from day fourteen. Transplanted hairs shed between weeks two and four before new growth begins around month three. Most patients see the full result at around twelve months.
If you want to understand the full post-procedure protocol, see our cost and pricing information or contact the clinic directly to request the aftercare guide.
DHI vs FUE: The Honest Comparison
Both techniques extract follicles from the donor area the same way. The difference is entirely in placement:
- DHI: Combined channel creation and implantation. Better for adding density to areas with existing hair. Suitable for smaller, targeted sessions. Lower risk of disturbing existing follicles.
- FUE: Separate channel creation and implantation. Better suited for full restorations, larger graft counts, and cases where the recipient area is mostly bare. Slightly more flexible in placement planning.
Neither is inherently superior. The right technique depends on what you are actually treating. Your surgeon will confirm the recommended approach after examining your scalp and donor area.
For patients interested in the strip-based alternative, see our page on FUT.
How the Choi Pen Rotation Works
A detail of DHI that patients rarely see explained is how the Choi Implanter Pen is used in practice during an actual procedure. It is not simply a matter of loading the pen and implanting, one by one.
During the implantation phase, two or three technicians work alongside the surgeon. Their job is to keep loaded pens ready at all times. As the surgeon finishes with a loaded pen, placing the graft and depressing the plunger, they set it to one side of the trolley and immediately pick up a fresh, already-loaded pen from the other side. A technician picks up the used pen, reloads it, and returns it to the trolley.
Three pens cycle through this process continuously throughout the implantation phase. The surgeon never waits for a pen to be loaded. The result is that each follicular unit spends the minimal possible time between extraction and implantation, which is one of the reasons graft survival rates can be strong with the DHI method when performed correctly.
DHI and FUE: The Relationship Explained
DHI and FUE are not competing techniques. A common misunderstanding among patients is that they need to choose one or the other. In practice, every DHI procedure uses FUE as its extraction phase.
FUE describes how follicles are removed from the donor area: a fine circular punch extracts individual follicular units one by one, leaving small circular healing points. DHI describes how those extracted follicles are then placed: using a Choi Implanter Pen for direct implantation without pre-made recipient sites.
At our Newcastle clinic, a DHI procedure begins with the same FUE extraction sequence as a standard FUE transplant. The donor area is trimmed, local anaesthetic applied, and follicles removed with the same fine punch. What differs is the implantation phase that follows.
The phrase “no-shave DHI” is often used to suggest the entire procedure can be performed without any shaving. This is only partially accurate. The recipient area, the zone being treated, can often be left unshaved, because the Choi pen allows new follicles to be placed between existing hairs without disturbing them. But the donor area must always be trimmed short enough for the extraction punch to work accurately. FUE extraction, which underpins every DHI procedure, requires this.
For patients where avoiding any donor shaving at all is a priority, FUT is the only technique that allows the strip to be excised without trimming the surrounding donor hair.
Where to Find Us
Hair Transplant Newcastle
Merchant House
30 Cloth Market
Newcastle
NE1 1EE
Our Newcastle city centre clinic is easy to reach from across the North East:
- Metro: Monument station is a 3-minute walk
- Train: Newcastle Central Station is 10 minutes on foot
- Car: A1(M) access, NCP car parks on Grainger Street and John Dobson Street nearby
Frequently Asked Questions
DHI is typically priced similarly to FUE for comparable graft counts. The cost difference between techniques is usually marginal at our Newcastle clinic. The primary driver of cost is the number of grafts being transplanted. See our pricing information for the current schedule.
Session length depends on the number of grafts. Most DHI sessions at Hair Transplant Newcastle take between five and eight hours. Because the implantation phase uses a rotation of loaded Choi pens maintained by technicians, the placement phase can take slightly longer per graft than standard FUE, though the total time difference is usually modest.
Yes. The precision of the Choi Implanter Pen makes DHI well suited to facial hair transplantation, including beard transplants and eyebrow transplants, where very fine control over graft angle and direction is important for a natural result.
Whether you need to shave depends on the extent of the area being treated. For localised density work, the donor and recipient areas may be trimmed without shaving the whole scalp. Larger procedures typically require donor area shaving. Your surgeon will advise at consultation based on the specific plan for your case.
DHI can be appropriate for women experiencing hair loss, particularly for adding density to thinning areas without disturbing existing hair. Women are also often candidates for FUT, which avoids the need to shave the donor area entirely. The correct technique will depend on the cause and extent of hair loss.
A DHI session at our Newcastle clinic typically covers up to 2,500 to 3,000 grafts per day. For cases requiring more grafts than this, the procedure may be staged across two sessions. Your surgeon will advise on the appropriate volume at your consultation.
Patient Testimonials
Aside from achieving fantastic results, we believe that keeping in touch with our patients before, during and after their hair transplantation procedure is paramount – it helps to keep our patients feeling calm and in control. We’re always on hand to provide guidance, support and aftercare advice. Time and again, our patients tell us that this is what sets us apart from other clinics.
You can read our great reviews of FUE hair transplants over on Google and Trustpilot