Hair Transplant · Harley Street
Male Pattern Baldness
The most common cause of hair loss in men, and the honest options for treating it.
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Male pattern baldness, or androgenetic alopecia, affects most men to some degree over their lifetime. It is inherited and gradual: the hormone DHT slowly shrinks sensitive follicles at the hairline and crown, while the sides and back stay resistant. That resistant hair is what makes a transplant possible.
It tends to follow the Norwood pattern, from a maturing hairline through to more extensive loss. Understanding your stage and how fast it is moving guides the right plan.
Can male pattern baldness be stopped?
It cannot be cured, but for many men the progression can be slowed and the existing hair supported, especially when addressed early. Where loss is established, a hair transplant relocates your own resistant follicles to the thinned areas for a lasting result. We give an honest view of what suits your stage at an assessment.
What are the treatment options?
Options range from supporting the hair you still have, through to a hair transplant for permanent restoration and scalp micropigmentation (SMP) to create the look of density or a defined shadow. Often a combination works best. The right route depends on your pattern, donor supply and goals, confirmed in person.
What causes male pattern baldness?
Male pattern baldness is largely genetic. Affected follicles are sensitive to DHT, a hormone derived from testosterone, which gradually shrinks them until they produce finer, shorter hairs and eventually stop. It is not caused by hats, washing or stress, though stress can trigger a separate, temporary shedding on top.
Does it reach the back and sides?
Usually not. The hair around the back and sides is genetically resistant to DHT, which is why it tends to stay put for life. That resistant hair is exactly what makes a transplant work: follicles moved from there keep their resistance and keep growing in the thinning areas.
How quickly does it progress?
It varies enormously. Some men thin slowly over decades, others notice rapid change in a few years, particularly when loss starts young. Because the pace matters for planning, we look at how fast your loss is moving, not just how much you have lost, before recommending the right time to act.
Before & after
See all results →Hair Transplant · Frontal hairline
Female Hair Transplant · Hairline and parting
Hair Transplant · Temporal hairline
Female Hair Transplant · Hairline & temples · DHI
2,600 grafts. A congenitally high hairline brought down to a natural position, with both temple points reconstructed. Female DHI, no head shave.
Female Hair Transplant · Hairline & sides · 6 months
1,800 grafts. Dense side gaps and a thinning front restored after trichotillomania (hair-pulling), shown at six months. Grafted without shaving the hair.
Hair Transplant · Front & crown
5,000 grafts. Front and crown restored together in one large session (areas 1-2-3-5-6). Male hair transplant.
Hair Transplant · Full scalp
4,000 grafts. Extensive thinning treated by spreading density across the whole area with a stronger front. Male hair transplant.
Hair Transplant · Frontal hairline
2,700 grafts. Early recession at the corners (areas 1-2) rebuilt and the hairline repaired, without lowering it. Male hair transplant.
Hair Transplant · Crown & mid-scalp
3,500 grafts. Mid-scalp and crown density restored across a larger area. Male hair transplant.
Female Hair Transplant · Hairline · 8 months
1,800 grafts. A naturally high, uneven hairline brought down and reshaped, shown at eight months. Female hair transplant.
Scalp Micropigmentation · Full scalp
by Filippo Peranzani
A receding, patchy hairline given a defined, closely shaved look with even tone. Scalp micropigmentation.
Scalp Micropigmentation · Full scalp
by Filippo Peranzani
Diffuse thinning across the top reworked into the appearance of a full, closely shaved head. Scalp micropigmentation.
Scalp Micropigmentation · Crown and hairline
by Filippo Peranzani
A faded cut with a thinning crown given added density and a sharper hairline edge. Scalp micropigmentation.
Scalp Micropigmentation · Crown
by Filippo Peranzani
Density blended into existing hair to disguise a thinning vertex. Scalp micropigmentation.
Scalp Micropigmentation · Hairline and temples
by Filippo Peranzani
Receded temples and hairline rebuilt into a natural, defined shape. Scalp micropigmentation.
Scalp Micropigmentation · Full scalp
by Filippo Peranzani
An uneven, scarred scalp given an even, natural closely shaved appearance. Scalp micropigmentation.
Scalp Micropigmentation · Full scalp
by Filippo Peranzani
A bald, uneven crown given dense, even coverage. Scalp micropigmentation.
Scalp Micropigmentation · Hairline detail
by Filippo Peranzani
Close detail of a micropigmented hairline blending into a shaved scalp. Scalp micropigmentation.
Scalp Micropigmentation · Women's density
by Filippo Peranzani
Female scalp micropigmentation: density built through the parting and hairline to reduce scalp show-through, blended softly under the hair. Scalp micropigmentation.
Scalp Micropigmentation · Added density (hair kept)
by Filippo Peranzani
Density built into thinning hair without shaving, reducing scalp show-through while keeping length. Scalp micropigmentation.
Scalp Micropigmentation · Transplant scar camouflage (FUT)
by Filippo Peranzani
A linear FUT hair transplant scar softened by blending pigment into the surrounding hair. Scalp micropigmentation.
Scalp Micropigmentation · Transplant scar camouflage (FUE)
by Filippo Peranzani
Dot scarring from FUE surgery blended into the donor area for a more even look. Scalp micropigmentation.
Scalp Micropigmentation · Injury scar camouflage
by Filippo Peranzani
An injury scar on the scalp softened by matching pigment to the surrounding hair pattern. Scalp micropigmentation.
Scalp Micropigmentation · Alopecia density
by Filippo Peranzani
Patchy hair loss given even, natural-looking density. Scalp micropigmentation.
Scalp Micropigmentation · SMP refresh
by Filippo Peranzani
Faded scalp micropigmentation refreshed to restore depth, contrast and a sharp hairline. Scalp micropigmentation.
Real patient results, shared with consent. Individual results vary; a personal consultation is required.
60-second estimate
How many grafts do you need?
Answer three quick questions for an indicative hair-loss stage and graft range, then get a free photo assessment from our surgeon.
Step 1 of 3
Who is this for?
Frequently asked questions
At what age does male pattern baldness start?
It can begin any time after puberty, and some men notice a receding hairline in their late teens or twenties. Starting early often means faster progression, so an early assessment gives you more options, including protecting the hair you still have before deciding on surgery.
Will a transplant fix male pattern baldness for good?
The transplanted follicles are resistant to pattern loss, so they keep growing permanently. Your untransplanted native hair can still thin over time, though, which is why we plan for the future and may discuss maintaining the surrounding hair. We are honest about this at consultation.
Am I too bald for a hair transplant?
Not necessarily, but advanced loss depends heavily on how much donor hair remains. With extensive baldness the goal becomes using a limited supply wisely for the most natural improvement, and sometimes SMP is a better fit. An in-person assessment gives you a straight answer.
Is male pattern baldness inherited from the mother’s side?
Partly, but it is more complex than the old myth suggests. Hair-loss genes come from both parents, so looking only at your maternal grandfather is unreliable. Your own pattern and pace are far more useful than family lore, which is why we assess you directly.
Can it start in your twenties?
Yes. Male pattern loss can begin any time after puberty, and early onset often signals a stronger genetic tendency. Starting young does not rule out treatment, but it makes an honest, forward-looking plan more important so a result now still looks natural later.
Speak to our team
Every treatment begins with a free, no-obligation consultation at 19 Harley Street. We assess you in person and give honest advice on what suits you.
Medically reviewed by Dr Sumeyye Yuksel, MBBS · 24 July 2026