Your Norwood stage
How far the loss has advanced, and whether the crown, the hairline or both are affected. This is what the check above asks you to match.
Free 60-second self-check
How many grafts do you need?
Match your hair loss to the pictures below and get an honest graft-count estimate, your likely Norwood stage and the technique that tends to suit it. It runs entirely on your device, so there is no photo to upload and nothing ever leaves your browser.
What actually decides how many grafts you need
A graft count is never a single fixed number. The estimate above is a starting range for your stage; four things move the real figure up or down, which is why a proper plan always comes from a surgeon, not a calculator.
Your donor area
The density and quality of the hair at the back and sides sets a ceiling on what can be moved. Two people at the same stage can have very different donor supply.
Hair characteristics
Calibre (thick or fine), curl and the contrast with your skin all change how much coverage a given number of grafts gives.
The area to cover
A focused hairline needs far fewer grafts than rebuilding the whole top, so where you want density matters as much as how many follicles are available.
Reading the Norwood scale
The pictures in the check are the Norwood scale, the standard way to describe male pattern hair loss from a full head (Stage I) to a bald crown with only a rim of hair (Stage VII). Matching yourself to a stage is the quickest way to understand roughly where you are and what a transplant would need to rebuild. For a full explanation of each stage and what it means, read our guide to the Norwood scale and the stages of hair loss.
Which technique suits which pattern
The result also suggests a technique, because the pattern usually points to one. A fine, detailed hairline is often best rebuilt with DHI, where each follicle is placed with a Choi implanter and little or no shaving is needed. Larger areas and the crown, where you want efficient, dense coverage, often suit Sapphire FUE. Most patterns can also be treated with standard FUE. The surgeon confirms the right one for you at your assessment.
Common questions
Is this a guarantee of how many grafts I need?
No. It is an educational estimate based on the Norwood stage you pick, not a diagnosis or a quote. Your real graft count can only be confirmed by a surgeon after looking at your donor area in person or from proper photos.
Do I have to upload a photo?
No. The check runs entirely in your browser and asks you to match a picture, not to send one. No photo is needed and nothing you choose is uploaded, saved or shared.
How many grafts for a Norwood 3, 5 or 7?
As a rough guide, a Norwood 3 is often around 1,500 to 2,500 grafts, a Norwood 5 around 3,500 to 4,500, and a Norwood 7 upwards of 6,000, sometimes over two sessions. The check above gives you the range for the stage you match.
FUE, DHI or Sapphire, which is right for me?
It depends on the pattern. A fine hairline is often suited to DHI, larger areas and the crown to Sapphire FUE, and most patterns can be treated with standard FUE. The result screen suggests one and links to the details, but the surgeon confirms the plan.
Turn your estimate into a real plan
Send a few photos and our medical team will give you a personal graft count, the right technique and an honest opinion, with no obligation.
Request your free assessment