HAIR TRANSPLANT FORUM

Future will remain unpredictable whatever we do .Future belongs to God.
You are rigth to say we should have some guidelines we follow to assess our patients ;and we do.
1.-If you start to lose your hair in early age,there is a big probability to lose more as Hair loss is a lifelong process.
2.-Your family history gives us a good approximation.
3.-Your hairs characteristics (hair caliber in your recipient area comparing to hairs in your donor area,...).
I usually assess those 3 parameters to predict the future.
Don't forget that a lot of things can trigger hair loss.
Hair loss doesn't follow a linear progression through life.There is period of acceleration with massive loss , then stabilization for a while , and acceleration again so forth.
Even though we could predict the final stage,we don't know how fast we will reach that point.
Other factors that influence or trigger hairloss:stress,emotions(depression with could be an issue in some patients with hair loss problem),nutrition, disease, medications,...
We have too much factors in our hand to consider and those factors could happen randomly.That's why I encourage patient to try to control hair loss progression with medications such as propecia,Rogaine, sawpalmetto,...and a good diet with vit supplements.
It's very difficult to come up with a general rule.But I used some factors in my guide line and I adapt that to each patient ,based on his personal history and goals.

good question. i think there often is very good evidence regarding how much hair a person is going to loose. i agree that we often attempt to be vague when we consult in an effort to avoid "selling" the procedure. others are vague to reduce the likelyhood you will sue them becasue they are selling you and hoodwinking you into something you should not be doing. i browse through several photo consults every few days. patients who are a class 5 or 6 or showing good evidence they are progressing to this level at a young age are discouraged from seeking hair transplant surgery.

here is some very interesting data. at age 50 to 59 10% of men with hair loss will be a NW 5, 7% a NW 6, and 3% a NW 7. in other words, most are a NW 5 or better. At age 60 to 69 15% are a NW 5, 13% a NW 6 and 10% a NW 7. At age 70 to 79 13% NW 5, 11% NW 6, and 11% NW 7. only 22% of men age 70 to 79 will advance to a NW 6 or 7. those that are going to hit this mark often have some degree of evidence in thier twenties.

iv'e seen several class 2 to 3 patients at age 22 that are still a class 2 to 3 at age 36.