A Report and Analysis Based on 9 Years Experience of 30 DHI Clinics

About the Author
Konstantinos P. Giotis founded the DHI MEDICAL GROUP 40 years ago in Palo Alto, California.
Today, DHI is one of the world’s largest medical organizations for hair restoration with presence in 30 locations worldwide. www.DHIGLOBAL.com
K P Giotis has published numerous papers on hair restoration and presented at several medical meetings around the world, including meetings of the ISHRS.
He holds several patents and patent pending applications. His Book on hair restoration options has been published in three languages.
Mr K. P. Giotis has participated as instructor and professor in the course:  “Baldness surgery diploma” in Lyon University,  May 26/2011.
His work will be presented  at ISHRS meeting also this year and several publications. He is the president of the Aegean Maters meeting.

The History
2003 FUE begins at DHI Europe and marks the end of the strip era.
DHI Surgeons had been experimenting with Follicular Unit Extraction as far back as 1998 without a satisfactory outcome.  In 2003, I was personally involved in the research to discover a successful method of FUE.
After hard work by a small number of DHI Physicians, we established an exemplary FUE Protocol that was so successful, we immediately abandoned the strip procedure forever.

FUE evolution at DHI

• Over 75 Physicians from 20 counties trained in FUE.
• Hairs extractions per session reach 6000 on a Giga session, a big jump from 500 in the early days.
• Speed of mega sessions reduced from 12 hours to 7 hours today.
• Over 35.000 FUE procedures performed by DHI trained  Physicians.   
• Total of 66.465.000 single hair follicles or approximately 33.232.500 follicular units.
• 37% of sessions performed  are to repair strip sessions.
• Giga two days sessions achieved.
• Body Hair as a viable additional donor source.

FUE is an amazing procedure in the right hands—yet it may be some of the risk factors encountered with Strip also exist with FUE. 

In order to improve FUE, Direct and Semi direct Hair Implantation was developed exclusively at DHI clinics.

Direct and Semi direct Hair Implantation was developed to eliminate all the Risk factors of Strip and FUE hair transplantation.

Our new vision is not only to respect every patient but,

To respect every hair follicle, every time, everywhere.

As our founder and chairman so often remind us all with one of his favourite statements 

"Hair follicle are living organs and no one has the right to destroy even one." 

• Damage of the follicle during the several steps of the process from extraction to reinsertion have now been eliminated, because these steps have been eliminated.
• Introducing  Direct Hair Implantation, an advanced form of FUE that eliminates the risks of hair follicle damage during  extraction and placement.
• Now hair follicles can be extracted and placed within six seconds.
• No incisions are needed in the recipient area.
• Satisfaction rates reached 100% with Direct Hair Implantation.
• And we are Now Rolling Out This Unique Procedure to All DHI Clinics.

Conclusions
DHI’s large number of sessions and success with different ethnic groups proves that FUE and it’s now more advanced forms such as Direct Hair Implantation is a better alternative to Strip surgery.

Several small sessions will produce better yield compared to same number of hair grafts from strip session as a result of reduced handling and manipulation.

- Recovery time for this patient friendly procedure is minimal.

- DHI CLIENTS can return to work next day. 

- No need to shave the donor or recipient area. 

- Local  Anaesthesia is now reduced.

- Healing is faster. 

- The result is 100% natural. 

- The growth is faster. 

Most important because there is no damage to the hair follicles the growth of the hair follicle reaches 100% of the implanted hair.

Hair loss has a complex physiological effect which has to be handled with as much attention. Each step from the diagnosis to the treatment must be meticulously planned.

ALL DHI clinics practice under the strictest protocols 

The secret of our success with Semi and Direct Hair Implantation: 

• To respect each and every follicle. Always. Everywhere. 

• Discuss in detail each client’s expectations. 

• Present in a clear way what can be achieved and how it will be done 

• Offer small sessions mega and giga sessions for Scalp and Body hair session. 

• 100% of the procedure is performed by the DHI certified specialist  - not by assistants.

• No damage to the hair follicles during the extraction and the placing. 

• Rapid healing and faster growth. 

• 100% survival rate of implanted hair follicles. 

At DHI, we have proven the success and continued to invest in constant innovation. The Strip Era may not end anytime soon for thousands of clinics around the world, but for DHI it ended back in 2003.
When it comes to the latest techniques in Medical Hair restoration such as FUE, SEMI DIRECT, AND DIRECT DHI Global Medical Group has more experience that all the other clinics combined.