Hair Loss and the Norwood Scale

The Hamilton-Norwood scale, first introduced by Dr. James Hamilton now commonly referred to as the [tag]Norwood scale[/tag] after the revision made by Dr.  O’Tar Norwood in the 1970s can be used as a guide to determine one’s level of [tag]baldness[/tag].

One thing that we have to remember is that the norwood scale is ONLY a guide to be used to determine approximately our level of [tag]hair loss[/tag]. It is not a perfect guide, but it certainly does a pretty good job in my opinion.

These are the typical patterns one might follow, but ultimately, there are often variations of it. Typically a diffuse thinner follows a different pattern and therefore it’s more difficult to determine where he/she might fall.

But once we classify ourselves on the norwood scale, what do we do with it?   How can it help us in our [tag]hair restoration[/tag] journey?

Truly this will depend on the individual, but I believe in considering the following course of action:

• Research everything there is to know about hair loss – the more you know, the better your decision making skills will be.
• Consider medication such as [tag]Propecia[/tag] and [tag]Rogaine[/tag] as your first line of defense to fight against further hair loss.   It might even help you regrow some hair, though there is a lesser chance of this.   The higher we are on the norwood scale, the more likely hair loss medication will not be enough to restore our hair.
• Research and educate yourself about [tag]hair transplantation surgery[/tag] which to date, is the only highly effective means of restoring your hair.

Hair Transplantation is not to be taken lightly and there is a lot to consider.   Patients with higher level norwood scales typically require more [tag]follicular unit grafts[/tag] to achieve decent hair coverage and density.

If you are considering a [tag] hair transplant[/tag], I recommend reading the following blogs which will kickstart your research regarding hair transplantation:

To Hair Transplant or Not to?

Considering a Hair Transplant:   Where do I begin?

Am I too Young for a Hair Transplant?

How do I choose a Hair Transplant Doctor?

I welcome any feedback you might have.

Bill
Associate Publisher