Hair Restoration · Surgical
FUE & DHI Hair Transplant
Follicular unit excision and direct implantation
FUE and DHI hair transplant in Istanbul: a hairline designed around your face and a protected donor area — under local anaesthesia, within a calm 3-day stay.
Last medical review:Dr. Can Ertekin
- Duration
- 6–8 hours
- Anaesthesia
- Local anaesthesia
- Hospital stay
- Not required
- Stay in Istanbul
- 3 days
- Recovery
- Back to social life in 7–10 days
- Results
- Final result at 12–18 months
Overview
A hair transplant moves individual follicles from the back and sides of the scalp, where hair is genetically more resistant to loss, to thinning areas. A good result rests on a well-designed hairline, follicles placed at natural angles and a carefully preserved donor area.
Planning begins with the cause and stage of your hair loss, donor density, hair characteristics and facial proportions. The hairline is designed with possible future loss in mind; graft numbers are individual and set only after your examination.
The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia in sterile conditions, led by your physician, with no hospital stay. The next day your first check and first wash take place at the clinic, and you are ready to fly home.
Who is it for?
- Anyone with a receding hairline or thinning at the crown
- Women and men with thinning in specific areas
- People with sufficient, healthy donor hair at the back and sides of the scalp
- Those who wish to refine a previous transplant or conceal a scar
- Adults with an established pattern of loss (usually 25+) in good general health
Techniques & options
01
FUE
Follicles are removed one by one from the donor area with a fine micromotor and placed into channels opened beforehand. Often chosen for larger areas, it leaves no linear scar in the donor area.
02
Sapphire FUE
Recipient channels are opened with sapphire-tipped blades instead of steel ones. Their fine, smooth incisions help place grafts close together at natural angles.
03
DHI
Each follicle is placed in a single step with a pen-like Choi implanter, without separate channel opening. It offers fine control over angle and direction and suits adding density or unshaven transplants.
04
Hairline design
Your hairline is drawn with you before the procedure, taking forehead height, facial proportions and age into account. Single-hair grafts along the front aim for a soft, natural transition.
How it works
- 1
Online assessment
You send photos of your hair from several angles; your physician assesses your hair loss and donor area and prepares a personal preliminary plan.
- 2
Arrival and consultation
You are met at the airport and settled into your hotel. Your hair and scalp are analysed, your hairline is designed together and the necessary blood tests are completed.
- 3
Procedure day
The 6–8 hour procedure is performed under local anaesthesia, with breaks to rest and eat. No hospital stay is needed; you return to your hotel the same day.
- 4
Check and first wash
The next day your coordinator brings you to the clinic, where the grafts are checked, your first wash is done and you are shown how to wash at home.
- 5
Flight home and follow-up
You fly home with your aftercare products and written instructions. Online follow-ups continue at regular intervals for 12 months.
Recovery timeline
Days 1–3
First days
Mild tightness and temporary swelling of the forehead may occur. You sleep with your head elevated and follow your wash routine without touching the grafts.
Days 7–10
Crusts shed
With gentle daily washes using the lotion and shampoo provided — no rubbing — the crusts fall away on their own. Most people return to social plans around this time.
Weeks 2–8
Shock loss
Some or most of the transplanted hairs may shed temporarily. This is expected: the follicles stay in place and prepare to grow new hair.
Months 3–6
New growth
New hairs begin to emerge fine and soft, gradually thickening and taking direction. This is when the change becomes noticeable.
Months 12–18
Final result
The hair matures to its final thickness and density; at the crown this can take a little longer.
The doctor planning your treatment
12 years' experience
Dr. Can Ertekin
Dermatologist · Hair Restoration
Dr. Can Ertekin designs every hairline around facial structure and plans graft harvesting to protect the donor area for the long term.
ISHRSTDD
Frequently asked questions
How many grafts will I need?
FUE or DHI — which suits me?
Is a hair transplant painful?
Is a hair transplant suitable for women?
Will my existing hair keep thinning?
What are the risks and possible side effects?
The information on this page is for general guidance and does not replace a personal medical assessment. The possible risks of any treatment, and whether it suits you, are discussed in detail at your consultation.
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Rebirth Journal
Blog posts about this treatment
TreatmentsFUE or DHI? Choosing the right hair transplant technique
FUE or DHI? How the two hair transplant techniques differ, where each one works well, and the factors that matter more than the name of the technique.
4 min read
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