When Is The Best Time To Get A Hair Transplant?

Hair loss is a very common phenomenon that encountered by both men and women.  However, it is really taken seriously by the medical profession which deploys many means to try to counter it and find solutions.

Alopecia, a medical term for abnormal hair loss can lead to more or less marked baldness that varies from person to person.  To determine its stage of advancement, there is a reference tool called the "Norwood-Hamilton scale".

So where does this unit of measurement come from?  How does it work and what is it used for?  And most importantly, how do you know if it is the right time for a transplant?

The Norwood and Hamilton Scale

A Measure Introduced To Measure The Progress Of Baldness

In his research on alopecia, Dr. Hamilton observed a difference between of two homozygous twins about the hair loss. One of them was neutered and therefore did not produce testosterone.  He had intact hair.  The other whose body was still producing testosterone, was starting to lose his hair.  This is how the link between hormones and baldness was established.  This work was completed by Dr. Norton in the 1970s and resulting in a classification of the status of alopecia: the Norwood-Hamilton scale.

The Norwood-Hamilton Classification

The Norwood-Hamilton scale consists of 7 stages of progression of alopecia.  Each of them is based on the density of hair still present in several areas of the skull:

• Stage 1: Absence of baldness or very slight decline of the frontal line.
• Stage 2: Lateral retreat of the frontal line with digging of the temporal gulfs.  This is quite common in a 20-year-old man who worries unnecessarily.
• Stage 3: Retreat of the frontal line with greater digging of the temporal gulfs.  This case is quite common between the ages of 20 and 30.  At a later stage more or less pronounced tonsure appears at the back of the head.
• Stage 4: Alopecia worsens and the tonsure gets bigger.
• Stage 5: The three areas affected by baldness come together.  There is little hair left between the two areas.
• Stage 6: Hair density drastically decreases over the entire head.
• Stage 7: This is the most advanced terminal stage of baldness.  Only more or less hairy low crown remains.

What Are The Causes Of Baldness?

Alopecia can have multiple causes.  However, in the majority of cases, it is inherited and androgenic.  In other words, it is the result of hormonal imbalance or excessive skin sensitivity to male hormones.  They locally cause to miniaturization of the hair with increasingly fine hair regrowth until their total disappearance from the skin surface.  They accelerate their aging until completely depleting the production of new hair.

Note, however, that certain medications, psychological shock or nutritional deficiencies can also accelerate to baldness.  These other cases represent only about 10% of the causes of alopecia.

When Is The Best Time To Have A Transplant?

Before performing a hair transplant, it is very important to take into account the evolution of your baldness.  The Norwood-Hamilton scale shows where you are and whether or not alopecia is still likely to progress.  Indeed, in some cases, it stabilizes at an intermediate stage.  Not all people with hair loss achieve Norwood Hamilton Stage 7.  This shows the importance of being well examined in consultation by a specialist doctor before making any decision.

When the transplant is performed too early and if the hair still continues to fall out, it should be noted that the operation can be repeated a few years later.  Indeed, the hair transplant is a replenish an area of ​​the skull that is already bald or bald but does not stop the process of alopecia.  Therefore, if all the hair has not yet fallen out, more transplants may be needed in the future to replace it.  Fortunately, transplanted hair will never fall out again.

Generally, hair transplantation is recommended from stage 3 of the Norwood Hamilton scale.  However, having the operation relatively early, even if it means having to redo a second operation, has the advantage of never really seeing yourself bald ... It is a good alternative for people who psychologically affected by loss of healthy hair.