Implanter Pen: How It Is Used in Hair Transplantation

An implanter pen is a hollow, spring-loaded instrument used to insert prepared hair follicles into the scalp. It is also known as a Choi implanter or DHI pen. The pen has a narrow needle-like tip and a plunger; the graft is loaded into the tip, positioned over a recipient site, and released as the tip enters the skin.

The pen supports controlled placement, but it does not diagnose hair loss or create a complete transplant plan. Hairline design, donor assessment, graft preparation, and follow-up remain clinical decisions made by the transplant team.

During a transplant, follicles are collected from a donor area using an appropriate harvesting method and sorted according to their characteristics. The team then loads individual grafts into the implanter pen. The surgeon or trained clinician places each graft into a prepared or created recipient site, considering the natural direction, angle, spacing, and the design of the hairline.

The number of pens and the order of placement depend on the plan and the grafts being used. The procedure may involve local anaesthetic, and the scalp is reviewed before discharge with instructions for washing, sleeping position, medicines, and activity.

An implanter pen cannot create new donor hair, stop the underlying cause of hair loss, or guarantee density. The visible result depends on donor supply, follicle survival, scalp healing, hair characteristics, design, and future hair loss. It may not suit every scalp or graft type, and another insertion method may be selected for a particular plan.

Hair transplantation may use forceps to place grafts into recipient sites, or a plan may combine different instruments for different stages. Non-surgical options include medical treatment, scalp camouflage, or hair systems, depending on the diagnosis. A qualified clinician should confirm whether hair loss is stable enough for surgery and whether the donor area can support the intended design.

The presence of an implanter pen describes a placement technique, not a promised outcome. Before booking, ask who will harvest and place the grafts, how the hairline will be designed, what happens if native hair keeps thinning, and how the team protects grafts after insertion. Share medical conditions, medicines, smoking or vaping, and any previous scalp procedures.

Scalp tenderness, swelling, crusting, numbness, and temporary shedding can occur after transplantation. Follow the clinic’s washing, sleeping, sun, and activity instructions, and do not pick at crusts. Infection, bleeding, severe pain, spreading redness, pus, fever, or a sudden concerning change should be reported promptly to the transplant team. Sterile handling and careful graft placement are essential parts of safe use.