Disclosure: this educational contribution is from the Istanbul Care team. We have a commercial connection to hair transplant services. This post explains terminology and does not rank clinics or recommend a technique for an individual.
A useful consultation separates how grafts are obtained, how they are placed and who performs the clinical stages. A short label alone does not answer all three questions.
Key takeaways
- Ask what happens during each stage, beyond the advertised name.
- Keep harvesting and implantation terminology separate.
- Request a written explanation of responsibilities.
Six terms and a question for each
| Term | What it describes | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Follicular unit | A naturally occurring hair grouping | Are you discussing grafts or individual hairs? |
| 2. FUE | Harvesting follicular units individually using small punches | Why is this harvesting approach proposed for me? |
| 3. FUT or strip harvesting | Obtaining donor tissue as a strip and preparing follicular-unit grafts | What are the tradeoffs for my situation? |
| 4. Recipient sites | The openings where grafts are placed | Who creates these sites? |
| 5. Implanter | An instrument used to place grafts | What instrument and workflow will be used? |
| 6. DHI | A term practitioners use for certain implantation workflows | What exactly does this term mean in your proposed procedure? |
ISHRS distinguishes harvesting from implantation and notes that practitioners use “DHI” in different ways. It also cautions that FUE is surgery and can leave scars. These descriptions do not establish that one approach is best for everyone. ISHRS surgical overview
Putting the terms to use
Ask for a short description of the proposed sequence. Mark which parts concern harvesting, site creation and placement, then identify the named professional responsible for each. If the written proposal and the consultation use different words, ask for clarification.
ISHRS also recommends asking about the education, training, licensure and experience of the people involved in surgery. Its question guide is useful when preparing that conversation. Questions for your hair restoration surgeon
Discussion
Which term have you seen used differently by different providers, and what explanation helped you understand it? Please avoid personal treatment recommendations or promotional replies.
Sources checked: 21 October 2026. General information only; no medical review is claimed.