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Guide · Step 1 of 5By Klineva · Updated on 5 October 2026 · 9 min read
There is no hair transplant technique that is ideal for everyone: the right choice depends on your case. FUT removes a strip of scalp and leaves a linear scar. FUE and its variant Sapphire FUE extract the grafts one by one and suit most cases of baldness. DHI implants the grafts directly with a pen; the recipient area can stay unshaved. This guide describes each technique, then compares them, before helping you choose.
A hair transplant is a surgical procedure, for men and women alike. It is performed all over the world. It can restore density to your hair after hair loss (see our article on the causes of hair loss) and reshape the hairline.
There are several techniques: FUT, FUE with its variant Sapphire FUE, DHI and IFA. The following sections describe them one by one, with their strengths and weaknesses. A comparison then helps you choose.
FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation) is one of the first techniques used for hair transplants. Surgeons cut out a strip of scalp from the nape of the neck. In this area, the hair is denser and, as a general rule, resistant to hair loss. Once removed, the strip is divided into groups of up to four hairs. These groups are then implanted one by one into the balding area.
FUT leaves a linear scar where the strip of scalp was removed. This scar can be hidden by the surrounding hair. It may, however, be visible if you wear your hair very short.
The recovery period is also generally longer than with the other techniques, because of the time the scar takes to heal.
FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) is more recent than FUT. It is suitable for most cases of baldness. The surgeon takes the grafts from the back of the scalp, then implants them in the areas where there is no longer any hair. For the extraction, the surgeon uses a small surgical drill about one millimetre in diameter: the micro-punch. With a fine blade, the surgeon then makes small incisions in the areas to be transplanted, which receive the grafts.
Sapphire FUE is a variant of conventional FUE. It uses sapphire blades, which allow finer, more closely spaced incisions. The technique is more precise and can give denser results.
Unlike FUT, FUE does not cause a linear scar, either in the donor area or in the recipient area, once healing is complete. It does, however, leave small scars: according to the ISHRS, the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, these round scars are scattered and much less visible than a line.
The recovery period is generally shorter than with FUT. With Sapphire FUE, it is even faster than with conventional FUE.
DHI (Direct Hair Implantation) is an evolution of FUE. It is carried out entirely by hand: extraction of the follicles, then implantation of the grafts. As with FUE and Sapphire FUE, the extraction is done with a micro-punch.
The grafts are then placed in a pen-shaped injector, called a Choi pen. This pen allows the grafts to be implanted directly into the balding areas. The specialist controls the depth, direction and angle of implantation, following well-defined steps. DHI aims for a natural, dense result.
DHI offers greater precision when implanting the grafts, which can lead to more natural results.
It does not require small incisions to be made beforehand in order to implant the grafts. This can reduce bleeding, bruising after the operation and recovery time.
It also offers the option of carrying out no-shave hair transplant on the recipient area, depending on your case.
IFA (Implantation Folliculaire Automatisée, or automated follicular implantation) differs from FUT, FUE and DHI. The follicles are extracted with the help of a machine: a robot performs the technical steps to remove the follicular units from the patient’s head. The grafts are then implanted in the balding area, in incisions similar to those used in FUE and FUT.
Let us now compare the main hair transplant techniques, to help you make an informed decision. We use four criteria:
Results (naturalness, density) are not ranked here. They depend on each case and on the surgeon’s experience, whichever technique is used.
| Technique | Scar | Recovery |
|---|---|---|
| FUT | Linear scar in the donor area | Fairly long |
| FUE / Sapphire FUE | No linear scar | Average (faster with Sapphire FUE) |
| DHI | No linear scar | Fairly short |
| IFA | Incisions similar to those of FUE | Average |
General guidance, which varies from case to case. With FUE, Sapphire FUE and DHI, the extraction leaves small round scars, much less visible than a line.
| Technique | Number of grafts | Shaving |
|---|---|---|
| FUT | Variable | Depending on the case |
| FUE / Sapphire FUE | Large number possible | Donor area and recipient area shaved |
| DHI | Variable, up to a large number | Donor area shaved; recipient area can be left unshaved |
| IFA | More limited | Yes, generally |
General guidance, which varies from case to case. According to the ISHRS, FUE generally requires short hair in the donor area, whereas FUT does not require the hair in that area to be shaved. At Klineva, the donor area (the back of the head) is always shaved, whichever technique is used. In Sapphire FUE, the recipient area is shaved as well; in DHI, it can stay unshaved, depending on the case.
These criteria vary from case to case. Only a qualified hair transplant surgeon can assess which technique you need. Many hair transplant clinics in Turkey offer a personalised diagnosis, Klineva for example.
Everyone’s case is different. To plan your hair restoration project, make an appointment with a hair transplant surgery expert. You can ask them any questions you have about hair transplants.
In broad terms, here is what to remember:
Whichever technique you choose, it is crucial to choose an experienced, qualified surgeon. Consult several specialists, look at photos of previous results and ask all your questions before deciding. Our guide How to choose a clinic in Turkey gives the essential pointers.
To find out when to have a hair transplant, read our guide When should I have a hair transplant?.
real patients, with the number of grafts and the time elapsed since surgery
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The duration depends on the number of grafts to be transplanted and the technique used. For Sapphire FUE and DHI, the operation lasts 4 to 8 hours, a little longer with Sapphire FUE. Your surgeon will tell you the expected duration for your case.
In both cases, the grafts are extracted with a micro-punch. With FUE, the surgeon opens small incisions with a fine blade, then places the grafts in them. With DHI, the grafts are loaded into a pen and implanted directly, without a prior incision in the recipient area.
With FUE, both the donor area and the recipient area are shaved; with IFA, shaving is generally necessary. DHI makes it possible to leave the recipient area unshaved, depending on your case; the donor area (the back of the head) is always shaved. Only a surgeon can confirm what is possible for you.
The result is not visible straight away. The transplanted hairs fall out in the weeks following the operation, then new hairs grow from the transplanted follicles. It generally takes several months to see the result, and full density often takes a year or more. The final result can be judged between 12 and 18 months. You will find the details in our guide Hair transplant month by month.
Like any surgical procedure, a hair transplant can have temporary side effects: bruising, swelling, redness or sensitivity in the treated area. They generally disappear within a few days or weeks.
The follicles taken from the donor area are generally genetically resistant to hair loss. This is why transplanted hair usually lasts. However, natural hair loss can continue in other parts of the head if the baldness has not stabilised before the operation. An additional procedure may then be necessary; our guide to hair loss treatments gives an overview.
step 1 of 5: before the transplant
Guide · Step 1
When should I have a hair transplant?
The right time to get started, from the season to the stage of hair loss.
Read the guide
Guide · Step 1
The stages of baldness: the Norwood scale
Find out where you stand and what a transplant can cover.
Read the guide
Guide · Step 1
Hair loss treatments: what works, what doesn’t
Finasteride, minoxidil, new treatments: separating what works from false promises.
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