No Hair to the Throne, the headline read, commenting on Britain’s most eligible bachelor (i). POOR Prince William is losing his crowning glory it continued, mocking the 28 year old for displaying early signs of male pattern baldness. Of course, Prince William is not alone. An estimated 65% or more males suffer with signs of hair loss.
Most times, male pattern baldness is the result of hormonal changes that significantly impair the ability of the hair follicle to sustain natural hair growth. Termed androgenetic alopecia, this condition causes hair miniaturization, a phenomenon in which hair becomes thinner and finer each time it progresses through the growth cycle. Eventually, the hair falls out and ceases to grow entirely.
Psychological Distress. Studies indicate that hair loss may have a profoundly negative affect on not just self image, but on interpersonal interactions and professional life as well. The color, volume, and thickness of hair are major characteristics that affect how others perceive an individual. When compared to individuals with a full head of hair, those with thin or balding areas are often perceived as weaker, older, and less physically attractive. Now, that’s not to say that bald men are not confident. Our culture is filled with icons like Vin Diesel, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and others who enjoy a “bald” look and wear it with confidence.
However, if hair loss is negatively impacting your personal, social, or professional life, there’s a problem. Fortunately, male pattern baldness tends to progress in a predictable pattern over time, allowing hair transplant surgeons to provide expert evaluations and treatment recommendations that will produce natural, long-lasting hair where once was only balding scalp.
Norwood Classification: Stages, Signs, and Symptoms
The Norwood Classification is a system that professionals use to characterize male pattern baldness. Depending on the location and the severity, pattern baldness is classified according to 1 of 7 stages. This helps hair surgeons understand both the extent of the current condition as well as the pattern in which balding is most likely to follow. These two variables play a critical role in determining which hair loss treatment options are capable of restoring areas of the scalp that are thin or completely bald.
The Norwood Classification also provides a framework for understanding how the patient’s baldness may progress. This becomes a very important variable when the patient chooses a hair transplant procedure. Understanding how baldness may progress enables the surgeon to deliver a beautifully natural-looking end result by strategically restoring areas that are thin, balding, or susceptible to future hair loss.
The 7 stages of the Norwood Classification are shown below. Each stage depicts a unique circumstance in which hair is thinning, shedding, or balding in specific areas:
Female Hair Loss: For women, pattern baldness progresses in a very different manner. A unique classification system is used to characterize the stages of female hair loss, called the Ludwig Classification. Click the following link to learn more about the Ludwig Classification.
Hair Loss Evaluation, Diagnosis, and Treatment
At the Hair Transplant Institute of Miami, we hold our patients’ desire for a full and natural head of hair in the highest regard. We are home of South Florida’s most talented surgeons, microscopists, nurses, and staff. Our team works diligently to ensure each patient feels comfortable and confident during each visit, from evaluation to procedure and post-procedure follow-up.
Home of the ARTAS® System
In an effort to provide only the newest, safest, and most advanced procedures to our patients, the Hair Transplant Institute is proud to announce the arrival of the ARTAS System for hair transplant. Learn more about the ARTAS System, a physician-guided robotics technology that enables our team to deliver beautiful restoration results with unmatched precision, accuracy, and consistency.
Sources:
(i) No Hair to the Thrown. The Sun. Accessed 18 February 2013.