Predicting patterns of hair loss

I saw in one of your posts on your blog where you said somebody who is 35 years old with a Norwood 3A pattern has a worst case scenario of reaching a Norwood 5A. How do you know that? I thought the extent of hair loss can’t be predicted and in all of your posts you say that hair loss is progressive.  Also, if you live long enough, will a Norwood Class 3 become a Norwood CLass 7 pattern?

Everyone with balding genetics has a hair loss pattern that will evolve in their lifetime at an age determined by the genetic clock in each hair follicle. That pattern depends upon your inheritance and the progressive nature of hair loss reflects the movement to this “Unknown” pattern that you have. I developed general rules of thumb over 32 years in this business that give me insights into the statistics of patterned hair loss as it reflects the age and circumstances of each patient I examine.  Some balding men, for example, with a Class 3A pattern of balding, may never progress further, so a Class, 6 or 7 pattern for that person, may not be a genuine concern for me with some probability predictions made by me. Every person I examine is different.  For the ‘victim’ of balding, they worry about developing a Class 6 pr 7 pattern, which may be familial, so they rightfully worry. 

About your second question:  No.  If you don’t have the genes for a Class 7 pattern, you will not develop one even if you live to 100.  The problem is that there is no way to tell what genetics you inherited and how that genetics is expressed in your body.  That is why a doctor with great experience, like me, brings some value but still can’t predict the pattern 100%. My grandfather lived to 102 and retained his juvenile hairline and a full head of hair. This proved to me that hair loss is not inevitable for men. My Grandmother lived to 114, and she retained her juvenile female hairline throughout her life.