The Norwood scale, also known as the Hamilton-Norwood scale is a classification system that uses a 1 to 7 scale, to help doctors measure the extent of male pattern baldness. It was first introduced by Dr. James Hamilton in 1951, after observing the male-pattern baldness signs in over 300 men. However, it was updated later by O’Tar T. Norwood in the 1970s, and it’s now referred to as the Norwood Scale.
Most cosmetic clinics are now using this scale to diagnose the extent of baldness, discuss treatment options, and measure the effectiveness of treatment. To help you understand your case better, we are going to discuss Norwood Scale 5, where the classic horseshoe pattern of hair loss will become more visible, due to the intense hair loss around the front of your scalp, in addition to the temples and the crown areas, and thinning of the band of hair, which separates the forehead and the crown.
How does Norwood scale 5 look like?
Getting to Norwood 5 means expecting a significant amount of hair loss. You may have a small tuft in your forelock, your bridge that was noticeable in Norwood 4, will begin to split in half and your crown balding will get bigger.
At this point, you will be able to notice hair loss in the temples area too, while you get balder and your face shape changes. This hair loss and thinning will change the frame of your face and your whole appearance a lot. In general, you will look older, which can cause serious self-confidant issues to many people.
But do not worry, there is still a solution, doctors recommend doing a hair transplant to reposition your hairline. However, there is a main concern, a low hairline will need more grafts, while a higher hairline would leave you with more hair to use in the crown. So, it is your own choice.
In the meantime, we recommend using some medications which may slow down the hair loss process in the bridge and crown. As we have mentioned, it is your job to decide whether you prefer to transplant more hair in the crown or the forelock, especially if you don’t enough hair to look like a Norwood 2.
Implant more hair in your forelock and bridge area you can make you look like a Norwood 4 by establishing a permanent hairline. While your crown can get a thin covering which will reduce balding in that area. However, be careful when doing a hair transplant in the crown area, especially since your crown baldness can widen and create an unnatural look on your scalp. That is why experts don’t recommend doing a crown hair transplant before the age of 45.
Some people want to fill their crown area, no matter what, it is understandable, but keep in mind that your hairline position could be higher then. Hair transplant is all about the natural look, so, keep your expectations realistic.
Can Norwood scale 5 get a hair transplant?
Yes, of course, it is the most effective treatment at this stage. You need to know that the faster you take the action the more you reduce your hair balding. In general, most doctors recommend doing a hair transplant since it is the most suitable method for restoring your lost hair and stopping any additional hair loss or thinning.
Choosing the right hair transplant technique is very important at this point too, many surgeons use the FUE method, for example, this advanced technology has proven its efficiency in extracting hair one by one from the side and the back of your scalp and implant them carefully in your balding areas to create the natural look that you always desired.
How many grafts are needed for Norwood scale 5?
We already know that Norwood 5 is an advanced baldness stage, so it requires more healthy grafts to be extracted and transplanted to cover the bald areas. Although each case is different, we can say that a Norwood 5 patient will need around 2600 to 3800 hair grafts for his hairline and another 3800 to 4500 hair grafts for his crown area. However, the exact number of grafts needs to be determined by a specialist doctor after a solid examination that takes your desires under consideration among many other factors.
References:
https://www.theprivateclinic.co.uk/blog/assess-your-hair-loss-with-the-norwood-scale/
https://scalpmicrousa.com/the-norwood-scale-hair-loss-stages/
