Predicting a Final Hair Loss Pattern?

Hi Doctor,

I was wondering about predicting final patterns. You’ve explained how this is done by using the densitometer to check for miniaturization in areas where thinning might not be visible to the naked eye. You’ve also said that final patterns usually cannot be predicted with certainty in young men (say, a 21-year-old) because miniaturization could subsequently appear in new areas.

So, I was wondering, is there a particular age at which one’s genetically-programmed final pattern can be ascertained with reasonable confidence? (I realize that people don’t necessarily reach their final patterns.)

Also, do people who are Norwood 3V’s at young ages usually turn into Norwood 6’s? (I was told this.) Or is their hope that Norwood 3V/4/5 could be a final pattern for such a person?

Thank you for all of the amazing information.

I don’t believe you can predict your final pattern with absolute certainty, especially in your 20’s. In general, we will say that as you get older into your late 30’s to 40’s, the pattern should manifest. There’s no exact age I can pinpoint.

If you have a Norwood class 3V pattern (see diagram at right) as a 21 year old, these may enlarge with time and could end up as a class 4 pattern. I don’t know that a young man showing a 3V at the present time will usually advance to a class 6.

We try to better assess this with bulk measurements and miniaturization studies.