July 12 2012, 2:45 pm PT | Posted in: Hair Loss Causes
Is staying at a norwood 3 rare?
Dear Dr Rassman,
My father (70) and brother (48) are both pretty advanced norwood 3’s, yet they have no hair loss on top or at the crown at all. I am 28 and it looks like I am starting to head the same way. Is it rare for men to reach norwood 3 and have no further hair loss on other parts of the scalp? I ask as I rarely see other men with this same hair loss pattern in everyday life. Just about always there is some crown thinning too it seems. If you are a norwood 3 does that make you a good transplant candidate as the hair loss is limited to a smaller area?Thank you
I think the answer to your question is all around you — they’re shopping at the mall, walking out on the street, sitting at a restaurant… or as you note, take a look at your family! Many men are Norwood class 3 and that is their final hair loss pattern. These men make great hair transplant candidates. Of note, only about 7 to 8% of men in the world are Norwood 6 or 7.
It’s very important to note that the Norwood classification chart is not meant to be used as way to chart the progression of hair loss. It is meant to be a description of all types of hair loss patterned men. I would think more men are Norwood 3 than Norwood 7 by a long shot.
So no, I wouldn’t say a Norwood class 3 is rare at all. It’s possible you don’t see men with similar patterns because they’re treating this loss.
Dr Rassman
Could you explain the specific technique you use to determine what the final progression of hair loss is going to be.
The reason i ask is that I am 26 and have norwood 2/3 loss and no loss in the crown. I wont take propecia and so worry that a hair transplant may be a bad idea. However, if I thought that my hair loss was likely to stop at norwood 3, then id have no problem having a transplant now and maybe again in a few years to fill any final recission.
Finally, do most transplant surgeons offer this technique of determining final hair loss.
Thanks!
The main technique Dr. Rassman uses is miniaturization mapping:
http://www.baldingblog.com/2006/08/31/miniaturization-and-hair-loss-more-than-meets-the-eye/
But, since it became available the good doctor also uses Haircheck for Hair Bulk Analysis:
http://www.baldingblog.com/2010/11/11/haircheck-for-hair-bulk-analysis/
Depending on which doctor you go to, they may offer one or both techniques. There are doctors out there though, (even reputable ones) who are unable or unwilling to perform either check. Sometimes their motive is benevolent: if you are obviously a NW7 candidate the good doctors don’t want you to waste your money. But doctors might also refuse out of ignorance, inability or simply a desire to deny you a benchmark by which you can judge the success (or failure) of the transplant they perform. From these latter doctors, you should run away.
I am not a medical doctor but this is the gist of what I have learned on this site on this subject.