FUE, DHI and sapphire FUE: different steps on the same journey

What they share: extracting grafts one by one

In FUE, DHI and sapphire FUE, grafts are extracted individually from the donor area using fine tips. This step is essentially the same in all three techniques.

The difference concerns how the grafts are placed in the recipient area.

FUE and sapphire FUE

In classic FUE, channels are opened in advance with steel tips, and the grafts are placed into them with forceps. In sapphire FUE, the same step is carried out with sapphire-tipped blades.

The blade is chosen according to graft size. The material of the blade does not determine the outcome on its own; planning, angle and direction matter at least as much.

DHI

In DHI hair transplant, grafts are loaded into pens called implanters, and channel opening and implantation are done in a single movement. Angle and depth can be adjusted for each graft.

This method is often preferred at the hairline and in areas where grafts are placed between existing hairs; for larger areas, it is weighed against the plan in terms of time and graft count.

Who decides?

The technique depends as much on the donor structure, the size of the area and hair type as on the patient’s preference. The doctor decides after the examination; some plans combine techniques.