The Norwood scale, explained

When a surgeon talks about your 'Norwood stage,' they're using the standard scale that maps how male pattern hair loss progresses. Knowing roughly where you fall helps explain how many grafts a restoration might take — and whether now is the right time.

The stages, simply

• II — minimal recession at the temples; a mature hairline.
• III — deeper, symmetric recession at the temples; the first cosmetically significant stage.
• III vertex — stage III recession plus thinning at the crown.
• IV — more frontal loss with clearer crown involvement; a band of hair still separates them.
• V — the front and crown are larger and the separating band is narrower.
• VI — the bridge between front and crown is gone; they merge.
• VII — only a horseshoe of hair remains around the sides and back.

Why your stage matters

Higher stages mean more area to cover, so more grafts — but the real plan comes from measuring the area and your donor supply, not the stage alone. Our free AI analysis estimates your stage and a graft range from your photos; your surgeon confirms it.

Stability matters more than stage

If your loss is still progressing quickly, a surgeon may recommend stabilizing it on medication first, so a transplant isn't 'chasing' ongoing loss. A stable pattern gives the most predictable, lasting result.