How many grafts do I need?
No Significant Hair Loss
No noticeable hair loss or recession of the hairline. This represents a full head of hair with no signs of male pattern baldness.
Key Characteristics
- Hairline is full, with no visible recession.
- Only minimal shedding may occur.
No treatment usually needed unless there’s family history and early prevention is desired. This one is for medications.
Minimal Recession
Slight recession of the hairline around the temples. The hairline forms a subtle M-shape, but hair loss is minimal and often unnoticeable.
Key Characteristics
- Hairline starts to recede slightly at the temples.
- This is sometimes called a “mature hairline
This would be anything up to 1000 grafts.
Early Balding
The first stage considered significant hair loss. Deep recession at the temples creates a more pronounced M-shape, and hair may begin thinning at the crown.
Key Characteristics
- Deep, symmetrical recession at the temples, forming an “M”, “U” or “V” shape
- This is the first stage considered clinically significant baldness.
- Hair in the mid-frontal area begins to thin.
This would be anything up to 1000 grafts.
Early Balding Vertex
The first stage considered significant hair loss. Deep recession at the temples creates a more pronounced M-shape, and hair may begin thinning at the crown.
Key Characteristics
- Hairline recession as in Stage 3,
- A bald spot (thinning or complete loss) on the crown/vertex
- The front and crown are still separated by a band of hair
Moderate Hair Loss
Further recession at the temples and significant thinning or bald spot at the crown. A band of hair still connects the sides, separating the two areas of hair loss.
Key Characteristics
- Hairline recedes further, crown bald spot enlarges.
- The bridge of hair between the crown and the front becomes narrower.
This would 2500 grafts.
Advanced Hair Loss
The band of hair separating the temple and crown areas becomes thinner and narrower. Hair loss areas begin to merge, creating larger bald regions.
Key Characteristics
- The bald areas at the front and crown are larger and closer together
- The bridge of hair separating them is very thin
- Significant hair loss
This would be 3000 grafts.
Severe Hair Loss
The bridge of hair connecting the sides disappears completely. Large bald areas cover the front and top of the head, with hair remaining only on the sides and back.
Key Characteristics
- No connecting hair bridge
- The front and crown bald areas merge
- Only hair on the sides of the head remains (above the ears and around the back)
This would be 3500 grafts.
Advanced Baldness
The most advanced stage of male pattern baldness. Only a narrow band of hair remains around the sides and back of the head, often thin and fine in texture.
Key Characteristics
- Most severe stage:
- only a thin band of hair remains around the sides and back of the scalp
- Top of the head is completely bald
This would be SMP or hair piece.
Understanding Hair Loss Progression
Hair loss progression varies from person to person. The Norwood Scale helps identify patterns and stages, enabling better treatment planning and realistic expectations for hair restoration procedures.