Male Pattern Baldness

Not exactly. Transplanted follicles (taken from DHT-resistant donor area) won't fall out — but you'll continue losing native, non-transplanted hair if you don't address the underlying cause. This is why most surgeons recommend ongoing finasteride or minoxidil alongside surgery — to preserve native hair so the transplanted area doesn't end up surrounded by thinning hair.

Most reputable surgeons won't operate before age 25. Hair loss patterns aren't fully established before then — surgery on a 22-year-old who eventually progresses to advanced baldness leaves the transplanted hair stranded in a sea of bald scalp. The conservative range is 28–45. Beyond 45, the principles still work but donor area density may limit options.

Finasteride (Propecia) blocks DHT and can stop further loss in 80–90% of men. It works best when started early. Some men get visible regrowth on finasteride alone, especially at the crown. However, it doesn't restore severely receded hairlines — once a follicle is fully miniaturized for years, finasteride won't bring it back. Many patients use both: finasteride to stop progression + transplant to restore lost areas.

A 7-stage classification of male pattern baldness from Norwood I (no loss) to Norwood VII (only ring of hair around sides). Norwood III–V is the typical range for transplant candidates. Norwood VI–VII may require multiple sessions or have donor area limitations.