Norwood 7 requires 5,500 to 7,500 grafts for meaningful coverage of the entire bald area. This is the highest graft demand on the Norwood scale, and it pushes the limits of what a single donor area can provide. Understanding how these numbers are calculated, and what factors shift them up or down, is essential before committing to surgery.
How Graft Counts Are Calculated at Norwood 7
The bald area at Norwood 7 covers the entire top of the scalp, from the former frontal hairline through the mid-scalp to the crown vertex. In most men, this surface area measures approximately 180 to 250 square centimeters.
Transplant density targets at Norwood 7 are lower than at earlier stages because the donor supply cannot achieve native density across such a large area. The math works as follows:
| Variable | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Bald surface area | 180-250 cm2 |
| Target transplant density | 25-35 FU/cm2 |
| Total grafts needed | 5,500-7,500 |
| Average hairs per graft | 2.2 |
| Total transplanted hairs | 12,100-16,500 |
| Native density (for comparison) | 80-100 FU/cm2 |
At 25 to 35 follicular units per square centimeter, the result will look significantly better than a bald scalp, but it will not match the density of someone who never experienced hair loss. Most patients find 30+ FU/cm2 in the frontal zone to be cosmetically satisfying at conversational distance.
Factors That Change Your Graft Count
Head Size
Men with larger heads have more surface area to cover. The difference between a small and large head can be 500 to 1,000 grafts. Your surgeon will measure the bald area during consultation to calculate the exact requirement.
Hair Caliber and Color
Thick, coarse hair provides more visual coverage per graft than fine hair. Similarly, lighter hair against lighter skin (or darker hair against darker skin) appears denser because the contrast between hair and scalp is lower. A man with thick, wavy, medium-brown hair may achieve a satisfactory look at 5,500 grafts where a man with fine, straight, dark hair on a pale scalp needs 7,000+.
Coverage Priorities
Not every Norwood 7 patient wants the same result. Some prioritize:
- Frontal frame only: 2,500-3,500 grafts for a hairline and frontal density, leaving the crown bare or treated with SMP
- Frontal plus mid-scalp: 4,000-5,500 grafts, stopping before full crown coverage
- Full coverage (front to crown): 5,500-7,500 grafts across the entire bald area
Frontal-priority plans produce a more natural appearance because the hairline is what others see first. Crown coverage, while important to many patients, is less visible in daily interactions and costs a disproportionate number of grafts relative to visual impact.
Donor Area Limits
The donor area at Norwood 7 is the narrowest of any stage. The horseshoe-shaped fringe of DHT-resistant hair may measure only 4 to 8 cm in vertical width. The safe extraction limit is 45% of available donor follicles. Exceeding this creates visible thinning in the donor region.
Estimating Your Donor Supply
| Donor Density | Approximate Usable Donor Area | Safe Extractable Grafts |
|---|---|---|
| High (90+ FU/cm2) | 100-140 cm2 | 6,000-7,500 |
| Average (70-90 FU/cm2) | 100-140 cm2 | 4,500-6,000 |
| Low (<70 FU/cm2) | 100-140 cm2 | 3,000-4,500 |
Men with average donor density can typically supply 4,500 to 6,000 total grafts, which places them at the lower end of the Norwood 7 requirement. This means either accepting lower density, limiting coverage area, or supplementing with body hair transplant.
A surgeon should perform a donor density assessment using a densitometer or calibrated photography during your consultation. If they skip this step, consider it a red flag.
Session Planning: Why Multiple Sessions Are Required
No responsible surgeon will attempt to extract 5,500+ grafts from the scalp donor area in a single day. Here is how sessions are typically structured:
Option A: Two FUE Sessions
- Session 1: 2,500-3,500 grafts (frontal zone and hairline)
- Session 2: 2,500-3,500 grafts (mid-scalp and crown), 8-12 months later
- Total: 5,000-7,000 grafts
Option B: FUT + FUE Combination
- Session 1 (FUT): 3,000-4,000 grafts via strip excision
- Session 2 (FUE): 2,000-3,500 grafts extracted around the strip scar area
- Total: 5,000-7,500 grafts
Option C: Two FUT Sessions
- Session 1: 3,000-4,000 grafts
- Session 2: 2,000-3,500 grafts (limited by scar tissue and scalp laxity)
- Total: 5,000-7,500 grafts
The FUT + FUE combination often yields the highest total graft count because it harvests from the donor area using two different methods, maximizing the available follicles.
Graft Survival Across Sessions
Graft survival rates remain consistent at 90-95% across sessions when performed by an experienced team. There is no significant decrease in survival for the second session, provided the donor area is healthy and adequate healing time (8-12 months) has passed.
When the Donor Area Falls Short
If your donor area cannot supply 5,500 grafts, you have several options:
Body hair transplant (BHT): Chest, beard, and leg hair can supplement scalp donor grafts. Body hair has a shorter growth cycle and thinner caliber, so it is typically placed in the crown or mid-scalp to add density between scalp grafts. BHT can contribute 1,000 to 2,000 additional grafts in selected patients.
Scalp micropigmentation (SMP): SMP between transplanted hairs creates the illusion of higher density. Many Norwood 7 patients combine a frontal transplant with SMP across the mid-scalp and crown for a cohesive look at a lower graft count.
Frontal-only transplant: Concentrating all available grafts in the hairline and frontal zone (2,500-3,500 grafts) gives the highest visual impact per graft. The crown is left bare or treated with SMP.
Get Your Graft Estimate
Upload your photos at myhairline.ai/analyze for a free AI assessment that estimates your Norwood stage and provides a preliminary graft range. Bring this assessment to your surgical consultations to have a baseline for comparing surgeon recommendations.
For a complete breakdown of what Norwood 7 looks like and all available treatments, see our guide on what Norwood 7 looks like. To understand costs, see our Norwood 7 cost breakdown.
FAQ
How many grafts does Norwood 7 need?
Norwood 7 typically requires 5,500 to 7,500 grafts. At an average of 2.2 hairs per graft, that provides 12,100 to 16,500 transplanted hairs. The exact number depends on head size, hair caliber, desired density, and donor area availability.
Can you get 7,000 grafts in one session?
No. Safe single-session limits are approximately 5,000 grafts for FUE, 4,000 for FUT, and 3,500 for DHI. Norwood 7 patients almost always require two or more sessions spaced 8 to 12 months apart.
What if my donor area cannot supply enough grafts?
If your donor area cannot supply the full 5,500 to 7,500 grafts, options include prioritizing the frontal zone only, combining transplant with scalp micropigmentation, using body hair transplant to supplement scalp donor, or choosing SMP alone for the appearance of a closely shaved head.