Tag Archives: norwood scale

Small Punch FUE – 40yr Old Male

A new entry has just been added to Modena’s male hair loss success stories!

Diagnosis: FUE transplant – Age: 40 – Sex: Male

For this patient, we did a complete frontal zone and hairline reconstruction.

The patient wears his hair short so it was essential Dr. Yazdan use a very calibrated small punch during the FUE procedure to minimize scarring and maximize a natural look.

Check out our internet famous article on why punch size matters here.

Some doctors will tell you they prefer to use a larger punch in order to have room to extract 3-4 hairs, but more than likely, they simply don’t have the experience and skill it requires to extract the follicles containing multiple hairs using a smaller tool. “This isn’t something a hair surgeon can learn overnight, it takes years to perfect the artistic ability and scientific technique” Dr. Yazdan emphasizes.

Is Donor Hair Stronger and More Permanent or Will it Thin?

donor hair hair transplantYou’ve plunged into online research about hair transplantation and have come to understand that transplanted follicles are taken from what is known as the safe donor area (SDA). But is my donor hair any different from regular hair? If I’m losing my regular hair – on the top and crown areas – won’t my donor hair also shrink and fall out? Well, by a miracle of nature, the hair that grows on the sides of head and by the nape of the neck are practically permanent follicular units, immune to the miniaturizing effects of DHT.

For reasons not totally understood, hair taken from the donor zone is resistant to the degenerative changes related to pattern baldness. Hair follicles taken from the SDA do not miniaturize in response to DHT exposure, unlike the rest of the scalp, the basic reason for this has to do with the sensitivity of androgen protein receptors found on the follicles. The permanent nature of the grafts from the safe donor area is the reason why these hair follicles are used in hair transplant surgery, as they rarely thin or fall out due to age. 

Most Men Will Reach Norwood 6 or 7 (Severe Baldness)

The hair growth and loss cycle of every man will depend on their genetic makeup, most clearly forecasted on the scalp by a person’s late 20’s and early 30’s. It’s very useful to see where you are on the Norwood Scale – a classification system that illustrates progressive hair loss patterns in males – because you’ll know how many hair restoration therapies you’ll need to invest in. Since recession at the temples or near the crown is visible on 20-30% of men by the time they reach their 20s, the risk of continued hair loss (becoming a Norwood 6 or 7) is very likely every year preventative action is not taken.

Transplanting thick and strong donor hair into the receding parts of the scalp will stop the progression of hair loss dead in its tracks (or at least for 20 or 30 years). By opting for a skilled hair transplant you will turn back the clock on your looks. Chances are, if you’re visiting websites devoted to hair transplantation, you are worried about your hair loss or the potential for loss. The sooner you address your situation the greater the odds are that you will keep the hair you have.

Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.

Treatment for Early Signs of Balding

early signs of balding
The progressive nature of hair loss causes its sufferers to experience a mounting sense of dread and anxiety over their aesthetic deterioration. Responding to early signs of balding is often performed in panic and haste, but we’re here to advise the contrary. Know that tens of millions of men and women worldwide are experiencing hair thinning and loss right now. And that advances in the hair restoration industry in response to this universal phenomenon have been extremely fruitful.

For example, just in the last few years, platelet-rich plasma treatments for women have shown remarkable clinical results in decelerating hair loss.

Medical therapies like PRP and stem cell therapy – solutions which would have seemed unthinkable a few years ago – are now proving to fight hair loss better than ever possible. There are also strong proactive topical treatments like groMD follicle activator spray and groMD shampoo/conditioner, if mixed with finasteride or minoxidil, that can halt hair loss to a large degree.

Signs of Balding
A conspicuous absence of density near the widows peak and front temple are often the first signs of hair loss among men.

Excessive shedding in the shower or after sleep are also beginning warning signs for both men and women.

Loss of density on the crown and on the top of the head among males can often occur before anywhere else.

Among women, perceived visibility on the scalp where hair is often parted is usually a first sign of pattern baldness.

Study Yourself in the Mirror
Before rushing to search for remedies online or getting in touch with an expert in the hair restoration marketplace, look in the mirror and pull your hair back from your temple areas. Is there clear evidence of follicle miniaturization on the front ‘V’ pattern of your scalp and widows peak? If so, you are very likely experiencing early signs of balding that may lead to major hairline recession if not treated

Still more detailed, place a mirror above your head and towards the back near the crown, can you perceive areas of the scalp covered with little to no hair? If so, you have likely progressed beyond the early stages of hair loss and are advancing on the Norwood scale.

Treatment Options for Early Signs of Balding
Now that you’ve established that a more-than-normal amount of hair loss is occurring, and that a change in lifestyle or diet will likely fail to halt the progression of your hair loss, it’s time to consider the strongest treatment options to fight early signs of hair loss.

Perhaps the most well-known medical treatment to mitigate hair loss is finasteride. Finasteride blocks dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone responsible for male pattern baldness. Taking a daily dose of finasteride, in pill form, sold under the brand names Propecia® and Proscar®, has been clinically proven to re-grow hair in 65% of men and slow hair loss in virtually all patients.

A popular and proven topical treatment to fight hair loss is Minoxidil, sold under the brand name Rogaine®. Minoxidil stimulates inactive follicles and decelerates hair loss and follicle miniaturization. Minoxidil is usually applied via liquid or foam.

While finasteride and minoxidil are powerful treatments in helping to slow hair loss, they are costly, require lifelong commitment, and may have negative side effects. GroMD shampoo and conditioner and groMD follicle activator spray is simple and easy-to-use, free of sulfates, parabens, and other harmful chemicals, so everyone can adopt a light daily regimen that prevents hair loss. GroMD’s fortified and expertly refined DHT-blocking formula is enriched with growth-factor peptides and proteins, as well as anti-inflammatory mediators and anagen growth stimulators. Treatment with the groMD system has led to a significant increase in thickness and hair density in some patients.

Dr. Amir Yazdan, MD, is an internationally renowned hair transplant surgeon, expert guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors, creator of the GroMD hair restoration product line, ISHRS member, accredited member of the IAHRS and a visceral advocate for patient care. Learn more about Dr. Yazdan or read rave reviews from his patients.

What is the Norwood Scale?

If you’ve been researching hair transplants you’ve likely heard of the Norwood scale.
The Norwood scale is a tool that was developed to help diagnose the progression of hair loss. It was developed in the 1950’s and has been revised several times since.
The scale has approximately 8-12 stages depending on the version of the scale used. While there are many different variants of hair loss (much more than 12), the Norwood scale illustrates the most common ones.
Over time, as hair loss progresses, an individual may move to a different number on the scale. Similarly, a hair transplant changes the individual’s number on the scale as well.
Knowing your number on the scale allows you to keep track of your hair loss over time. This is particularly useful for those utilizing medical management. Medical management helps to maintain your current hair and prevent continued and future hair loss.
This tool not only helps you diagnose the progression of your hair loss but also helps in communicating with physicians and surgeons. Having an agreed upon scale allows everyone to be on the same page. This is particularly important when having a hair transplant surgery.
How to determine your level on the Norwood Scale
The 8 level Norwood scale follows the hair loss progression below:
Type I. Minimal hair loss.
Type II. Insignificant hair loss at temples.
Type III. The first stage that requires treatment.
Type III Vertex. Receding hairline and thinning hair on vertex.
Type IV. Bigger pattern on the vertex and hairline.
Type V. Patterns at both sites are bigger but a thin division line is still present.
Type VI. The bridge is gone but several strands of short fine hair may remain.
Type VII. The most severe form of hair loss. Little hair on the front or top of the head.
To determine your exact degree of baldness utilizing the scale, you should meet with a certified hair restoration surgeon. They will analyze your hair and give you a level and quote during a consultation.
If you’d like to determine your Norwood level, give us a call for a consultation today.