Direct Hair Implantation
DHI Hair Transplant Fresno
The only clinic in the Central Valley offering Direct Hair Implantation with the Choi implanter pen — minimal shaving, exceptional hairline control, performed by a licensed physician.
Your hair restoration physician
Dr. Oscar F. Hernandez Sandoval, MD
Every consultation, hairline design, extraction, and graft placement at Inside Out Medical Center is performed personally by Dr. Hernandez — never delegated to a technician. His training in FUE and DHI hair restoration shapes a careful, evidence-based approach to long-term results.
- Board-certified physician
- FUE & DHI hair restoration training
- Only Central Valley provider offering DHI
- Independent Fresno practice owner
- English & Spanish
How DHI works — and why it matters.
Direct Hair Implantation (DHI) is a refinement of follicular unit extraction. Each individual follicle is harvested from the donor area, loaded into a sterile Choi implanter pen, and placed directly into the recipient area in a single motion — the pen makes the incision and implants the graft simultaneously.
Compared to traditional FUE — where recipient incisions are pre-made and grafts are then placed into them — DHI offers tighter control over the angle, direction, and depth of every implant, and reduces the time follicles spend outside the body.
DHI is particularly well-suited for:
- Hairline-focused work where natural angle and density are critical
- Patients who want minimal shaving in the recipient area
- Smaller, precision-focused sessions
- Women considering surgical hair restoration
- Refinement work over existing native hair
Central Valley exclusive
The only Central Valley clinic performing DHI.
Inside Out Medical Center is the only practice in the Central Valley offering Direct Hair Implantation with the Choi implanter pen. For patients researching DHI specifically, you don't need to travel to LA, the Bay Area, or overseas — we perform the procedure here in Fresno, with a licensed physician at every step.
Why patients choose Inside Out.
01
Minimal shaving
Recipient area often doesn't need to be shaved — important for patients who can't take obvious downtime.
02
Precise placement
The Choi pen controls angle, depth, and direction in a single motion for natural hairline aesthetics.
03
Faster healing
No pre-made incisions sitting empty means tighter wounds and quicker recovery.
04
Physician-performed
Dr. Hernandez personally handles every step — design, extraction, and implantation.
Candidacy
Is this the right treatment for you?
A consultation is the only way to know for sure — but here's how we generally evaluate candidacy.
Often a good candidate
- Stable hair loss pattern with adequate donor density
- Patients prioritizing hairline aesthetics and natural angle
- Women or men who want to avoid shaving the recipient area
- Smaller to mid-sized graft counts
- Adults in good general health with realistic expectations
May not be ideal
- Very large single-session needs (FUE may be more efficient)
- Insufficient donor density
- Active rapid loss without medical stabilization first
- Active scalp conditions
How it works
A clear, supported process.
Step 1
Consultation & design
In-person evaluation, hairline design with Dr. Hernandez, graft-count planning, and written pricing. Your $200 consultation deposit is credited to your procedure.
Step 2
Procedure day
DHI is performed under local anesthesia in a single day. Each follicle is harvested, loaded into the Choi pen, and implanted directly into the recipient area.
Step 3
Recovery & growth
Same-day discharge. Healing in 5–10 days, shock loss at 2–4 weeks, visible new growth at month 3, final result at 9–12 months.
Recovery
What recovery actually looks like.
Day 0–2
First 48 hours
Mild swelling and tightness. Sleep elevated. Saline mist per instructions.
Day 3–7
Healing
Tiny scabs form and gently shed. No swimming, gym, or direct sun.
Week 2–4
Shock loss
Transplanted hairs shed — expected. Follicles remain and will produce new hair.
Month 9–12
Final result
Density and texture mature; style normally.
Treatment comparison
How this option compares.
| DHI | FUE | |
|---|---|---|
| Recipient incisions | Created at the moment of implantation by the Choi pen | Pre-made, grafts placed after |
| Shaving | Often minimal in the recipient area | Typically full shave of donor + recipient |
| Best for | Hairline work, precision sessions, minimal-shave cases | Larger sessions, full-scalp coverage |
| Time outside body | Shorter (single-motion implantation) | Slightly longer (placement step) |
| Downtime | 3–7 days | 3–7 days |
Both produce permanent results. The choice depends on case size, priorities, and donor characteristics — discussed honestly at consultation.
The Inside Out difference
Why patients across Central California choose us.
Only DHI provider in the Central Valley
Patients researching DHI no longer need to travel out of region for the procedure.
Physician at every step
Dr. Hernandez personally handles design, extraction, and implantation.
Honest comparison
If FUE would serve you better, we'll tell you. The best technique is the one that fits your case.
Real patients, real results
Before & after
Hair Transplant and Restoration
Before Hair Transplant and Restoration
Hair Transplant and Restoration
After Hair Transplant and Restoration
Hair Transplant and Restoration
Before Hair Transplant and Restoration
Hair Transplant and Restoration
After Hair Transplant and Restoration
Hair Transplant and Restoration
Before Hair Transplant and Restoration
Hair Transplant and Restoration
After Hair Transplant and Restoration
Hair Restoration
Before Hair Restoration
Hair Restoration
After Hair Restoration
Hair Restoration
Before Hair Restoration
Hair Restoration
After Hair Restoration
Hair Transplant and Restoration
Before Hair Transplant and Restoration
Hair Transplant and Restoration
After Hair Transplant and Restoration
Hair Transplant and Restoration
Before Hair Transplant
Hair Transplant and Restoration
After Hair Transplant
Hair Transplant and Restoration
Before Hair Transplant
Hair Transplant and Restoration
After Hair Transplant
Hair Transplant and Restoration
Before Hair Transplant
Hair Transplant and Restoration
After Hair Transplant
Hair Transplant and Restoration
Before Hair Transplant
Hair Transplant and Restoration
After Hair Transplant
FAQs
Common questions.
Don't see your question? Call us at 559-940-6990 or book a consultation — every patient gets honest, direct answers.
What is DHI?+
Direct Hair Implantation uses the Choi implanter pen to create the recipient incision and place each follicle in a single motion — different from traditional FUE, where incisions are pre-made and grafts are placed after.
Is DHI better than FUE?+
Neither is universally better. DHI offers tighter angle control and minimal shaving for hairline work; FUE can be more efficient for very large sessions. We recommend what fits your case.
Do I have to shave my head for DHI?+
Often no — DHI can be performed with minimal shaving in the recipient area, which is one of its main advantages.
How long does DHI take?+
Most DHI sessions run 6–9 hours under local anesthesia in a single day.
Where else can I get DHI in Central California?+
Inside Out Medical Center is the only clinic in the Central Valley currently offering DHI. The next-closest providers are in the Bay Area or LA.
Take the first step toward your results.
Book a consultation with Dr. Hernandez. A $200 consultation deposit secures your appointment and is fully credited toward your treatment if you move forward.