Nomenclature Proposal for the Zones and Landmarks of the Balding Scalp

In 2001, Michael L. Beehner introduced a standardized nomenclature for the balding scalp to improve communication among professionals in the field of hair restoration. The scalp was categorized into three main areas: the frontal region, midscalp, and vertex, with additional subregions and landmarks, including the "vertex transition point." This point marks where the scalp's plane shifts from horizontal to vertical and is a critical reference for hair transplantation, especially when donor hair is limited. The proposal also detailed subzones like the frontal hairline zone, lateral "crease" zones, and posterior parietal triangle zones, and clarified terms such as the temporal point and frontotemporal recession. The nomenclature, which was refined with input from hair surgeons and initially published in 1998, aimed to standardize the language used to describe balding patterns and facilitate procedures like hair transplantation.