If you have started researching hair transplants, you have almost certainly come across three abbreviations: FUE, Sapphire FUE, and DHI. Marketing brochures often present them as completely different operations. The reality is more nuanced — they are variations on the same surgical principle, distinguished by the tools used and the order of two key steps: channel opening and graft placement.
The shared foundation: extraction
All three techniques begin the same way. The surgeon harvests individual follicular units (each containing 1–4 hairs) from the donor area at the back and sides of the scalp. A specialised micro-punch — typically 0.6–0.9 mm — is used to score the skin around each follicle, which is then lifted out with fine forceps. This part of the procedure is identical across FUE, Sapphire FUE, and DHI.
Where they diverge
1. Standard FUE
After extraction, the surgeon manually opens recipient channels using a steel blade, then a technician (or the surgeon) places the grafts into those pre-made channels with fine forceps. It is the original technique — well-understood, predictable, suitable for almost every case.
- Recovery: 7–10 days for visible scabbing
- Session length: 4–5 hours for ~3,500 grafts
- Best for: Larger sessions, classic recession patterns
2. Sapphire FUE
Identical to FUE, except the channel opening uses sapphire crystal blades instead of steel. The V-shape of the sapphire blade creates a smaller, more precise channel — which means less tissue trauma, faster healing, and a slightly higher density of placed grafts per cm². For most patients, this is the technique we recommend.
- Recovery: 5–7 days for visible scabbing
- Session length: 4–5 hours for ~3,500 grafts
- Best for: Most patients seeking maximum density and minimal scarring
3. Direct DHI (Choi pen)
DHI uses a Choi implanter pen — a hollow needle loaded with a single graft — to open the channel and place the graft in one motion. The surgeon controls depth, angle and direction graft-by-graft. Particularly powerful for designing the front hairline, where direction precision matters most.
- Recovery: 5–7 days for visible scabbing
- Session length: 6–10 hours (slower per graft)
- Best for: Hairline restoration, smaller sessions, women
Quick comparison
| Technique | Channels | Max grafts/session | Recovery | BergemHealth price band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard FUE | Steel blade, opened first | 5,000+ | 7–10 days | £1,250–£2,500 |
| Sapphire FUE | Sapphire blade, opened first | 5,000+ | 5–7 days | £1,750–£3,250 |
| DHI (Choi) | Implanter pen, all-in-one | ~4,000 | 5–7 days | £2,250–£4,250 |
Which one will you actually get?
The honest answer is: it depends on your case, and your surgeon should recommend — never sell — the technique. Dr. Hamid Aydın at Liv Hospital Ulus typically recommends Sapphire FUE for the majority of patients seeking high density. DHI is added for the hairline zone in patients where direction precision matters most. Combination procedures are common.
The technique label matters less than the surgeon. Who plans your hairline, who places the grafts, and how many cases they handle per day are the variables that determine your final result — not the brand name of the blade.
Book a free consultation with our team to receive a technique recommendation tailored to your case.