en Patient Case: 3,100 DHI Grafts – How Garin Restored His Receding Hairline in 9 Months
Summary
A clinical case from Dr. Cinik Hair Transplant Clinic (DHI technique), documented with the patient’s consent. All photos are from Garin Frandle’s procedure at our clinic.
This is a documented patient case. For a full overview of the procedure itself, see our main guide to DHI hair transplant in Turkey.
Garin Frandle restored his receding hairline with a DHI hair transplant of 3100 grafts. His photos document the full journey, from the planning day to a dense, natural result at 9 months. This case study explains his hair loss pattern, the procedure, and each stage of his recovery. It also shows why the DHI technique suited his needs.
Hair loss affects millions of men worldwide. The main cause is androgenetic alopecia, a genetic condition driven by the hormone dihydrotestosterone, or DHT (Inui and Itami 2011). Garin’s case shows how modern hair restoration can reverse visible thinning when a skilled medical team plans the work well.
Who Is Garin Frandle and What Was His Hair Loss Pattern?
Garin Frandle is a male patient who showed a receding frontal hairline with temple loss on both sides. His pre-operative photos match a Norwood stage 3 to 4 pattern (Norwood 1975). His frontal zone had thinned, and his temples had moved back. His crown and donor area stayed strong.
The pre-operative images tell a clear story. The front photo shows a marked hairline drawn low on his forehead. His native hairline had retreated well behind that line. The side photos confirm deep temple recession on the left and the right. The back photo shows a dense, healthy donor zone. This donor strength made him a strong candidate for a DHI hair transplant.
| Case Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Patient | Garin Frandle |
| Technique | DHI hair transplant |
| Graft count | 3100 grafts |
| Hair loss pattern | Norwood 3 to 4, frontal and temple recession |
| Donor area | Dense and healthy |
| Documented result | 9 months |
What Is a DHI Hair Transplant and How Does It Work?
DHI stands for Direct Hair Implantation. A surgeon extracts single follicular units from the donor area. A specialist then loads each graft into a Choi implanter pen. The pen places the graft directly into the scalp. This method gives the team full control over angle, depth, and direction (Choi and Kim 1992).
The DHI hair transplant has one key advantage. The graft spends very little time outside the body. Research links shorter out-of-body time with better graft survival (Parsley and Perez-Meza 2010). For a case like Garin Frandle’s, where 3100 grafts had to rebuild a full frontal zone, survival rate matters a great deal.
How Does DHI Differ From FUE?
Both techniques move follicles from the donor zone to the bald zone. The difference lies in the implantation step.
| Feature | DHI Hair Transplant | Classic FUE |
|---|---|---|
| Implantation tool | Choi implanter pen | Forceps after channel opening |
| Channel opening | Pen opens and implants in one motion | Separate step before placement |
| Angle control | Very high | High |
| Shaving requirement | Often partial | Usually full |
| Time outside body | Very short | Longer |
| Best for | Hairlines and dense packing | Large bald areas |
Why Were 3100 Grafts the Right Choice for This Case?
The number 3100 fits Garin’s degree of loss. A Norwood 3 to 4 pattern usually needs 2500 to 3500 grafts for solid frontal coverage. The team split the grafts across three zones. The hairline received single grafts for a soft, natural edge. The frontal zone received double and triple grafts for density. The temples received angled grafts that follow the native growth direction. This planning approach matches published standards for natural hairline design (Parsley and Perez-Meza 2010).
Who Performs Each Step of the DHI Hair Transplant?
A full medical team carries out a DHI hair transplant. Each stage has a clear owner. Dr. Cinik supervises the whole process. This structure protects graft quality and keeps every step accountable.
Who Designs Your Hairline?
The medical team designs your hairline according to Dr. Cinik’s medical protocol. The design matches your facial features and your long-term expectations. In Garin Frandle’s photos you can see the drawn line before surgery. The line sits at a natural height with soft, irregular edges. A straight line would look artificial, so the protocol avoids it.
Who Performs the Extractions?
Trained professionals carry out each extraction with precision. They work to preserve graft quality and protect the donor area. Garin’s 9 month donor photo proves this point. The back of his head shows even density with no visible scarring.
Who Opens the Channels and Implants the Grafts?
In a DHI hair transplant, experienced specialists use the Choi pen to open the site and implant the graft in one motion. They follow strict medical protocols to maximize graft survival and to keep implantation conditions consistent. This single-step method is the core of the DHI technique (Choi and Kim 1992).
Who Makes the Medical Decisions?
Qualified hair transplant doctors make every medical decision. Dr. Cinik supervises these decisions. The team plans each procedure according to the highest medical standards, from graft count to hairline position.
Who Is Responsible for Your Final Result?
Every specialist plays a critical role. Dr. Cinik remains ultimately responsible for the final outcome. He supervises the procedure and validates that every stage meets the clinic’s medical standards.
What Do the Pre-Operative Photos Show?
The pre-operative photos show a classic male pattern loss with a strong donor reserve. The front view shows a high forehead and a faded hairline. Purple markings map the planned line. Both side views show temple points that had vanished. The donor view shows thick, even coverage from ear to ear. These four views gave the team a full map for the 3100 grafts plan.
How Did the Scalp Look Right After the Operation?
The immediate post-operative photo shows a clean recipient field with thousands of tiny implantation points. Garin smiles in this photo, which reflects good comfort under local anesthesia. The grafts sit in neat rows along the new hairline. Small scabs form at each site. These scabs protect the grafts and fall off within ten to fourteen days (Rogers and Avram 2008).
What Did the Hair Look Like at 3 Months?
At 3 months the result was still early, and that is completely normal. The month 3 photo shows a short buzz cut with fine new hairs across the frontal zone. Some redness remains on the scalp. Many transplanted hairs shed in the first weeks. This process is called shock loss. The follicle stays alive under the skin and enters a resting phase before it grows again (Rogers and Avram 2008). Garin’s photo shows exactly this phase, with thin early growth breaking through.
What Changed by 6 Months?
By 6 months the transformation became obvious. The month 6 photo shows a formed hairline and real coverage across the front. The hair has length, texture, and direction. Density still improves after this point, because hair shafts thicken as the follicles mature. Studies place the fastest visible growth window between months 4 and 8 (Parsley and Perez-Meza 2010). Garin Frandle’s 6 month result sits right on that curve.
What Do the 9 Month Results Show?
The 9 month photos show a mature, natural result across every angle. The front view shows a defined hairline that frames the face and lowers the forehead. The left and right profiles show rebuilt temple points that blend into the native hair. The back view shows an untouched looking donor area with full density. The DHI hair transplant delivered even coverage with a soft frontal edge, which is the hardest part of any restoration.
| Stage | What the Photos Show |
|---|---|
| Pre-operative | Receded hairline, temple loss, strong donor area |
| Immediate post-op | 3100 grafts placed, clean recipient field |
| Month 3 | Early fine growth, mild redness, post shedding phase |
| Month 6 | Formed hairline, clear frontal coverage |
| Month 9 | Mature density, natural hairline, healed donor zone |
How Does This Recovery Compare to the Typical Timeline?
Garin’s recovery follows the standard DHI hair transplant timeline almost exactly. Most patients see shedding in the first month, early growth at month 3 or 4, strong change at month 6, and near final density between months 9 and 12 (Inui and Itami 2011). His 9 month result already shows mature coverage, which places him ahead of the average curve.
What Can We Learn From Garin Frandle’s Case?
This case proves three things. First, correct graft planning matters. The 3100 grafts matched the size of his bald zone. Second, technique matters. The DHI hair transplant gave the team the angle control that a natural hairline demands. Third, medical supervision matters. A protocol driven team, with Dr. Cinik responsible for the outcome, turned a Norwood 3 to 4 pattern into a full head of hair in 9 months.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Case
Is a 3100 grafts DHI hair transplant painful?
No. The team works under local anesthesia. Patients report pressure, not pain.
When will the final result appear?
Most patients see the final result between months 12 and 18. Garin’s 9 month photos already show a strong outcome.
Will the transplanted hair fall out again?
No. Donor hair resists DHT, so the grafts keep growing for life (Inui and Itami 2011).
References
Choi, Y. C., and J. C. Kim. “Single Hair Transplantation Using the Choi Hair Transplanter.” Journal of Dermatologic Surgery and Oncology, vol. 18, no. 11, 1992, pp. 945-948.
Inui, Shigeki, and Satoshi Itami. “Molecular Basis of Androgenetic Alopecia: From Androgen to Paracrine Mediators Through Dermal Papilla.” Journal of Dermatological Science, vol. 61, no. 1, 2011, pp. 1-6.
Norwood, O’Tar T. “Male Pattern Baldness: Classification and Incidence.” Southern Medical Journal, vol. 68, no. 11, 1975, pp. 1359-1365.
Parsley, William M., and David Perez-Meza. “Review of Factors Affecting the Growth and Survival of Follicular Grafts.” Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, vol. 3, no. 2, 2010, pp. 69-75.
Rogers, Nicole E., and Marc R. Avram. “Medical Treatments for Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss.” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, vol. 59, no. 4, 2008, pp. 547-566.
