ObesityHelp Community Tips: Post-op Hair Loss
October 16, 2015Some hair loss is common between 3 and 6 months following surgery. The reasons for this are not totally understood. Even if you take all recommended supplements, hair loss will be noticed until the follicles come back. Hair loss is almost always temporary. Adequate intake of protein, vitamins and minerals will help to ensure hair re-growth, and avoid longer term thinning. - American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS)
We often get emails, see threads or talk with community members that are concerned about hair loss after surgery. We went out to the community and asked our experienced members how they managed their hair loss after weight loss surgery. Here are some of the tips we received!
Are Supplements & Shampoos right for you?
- Started biotin pre op, still take it 15 Mos out. Also used Nioxin shampoo and conditioner for a full year. My hair loss is very minimal now but grows slower, so I just keep it short. As thick as it ever was b4 surgery now, too. - Sue C.
- Started Biotin supplement pre-op and still take it (almost 2 years post-op). 5000 mcg per day. Hair loss slowed down about 9 months post-op and has been slowly coming back.- Sandra F.
- No shampoo worked for me. Just take your b7 and k2 for hair with your daily vitamins. - Tamie
- I did not lose much hair early post op. I read other posts at my time of my wls and followed their steps. Don't comb hair after showering, wait until hair is dry. Don't wash hair in hot water. Always use conditioner. Took my vitamins prescribed from my doctor after wls. - huskergalWsD
What about a New Hair Style?
- The best thing I can recommend to anyone is to get a layered haircut to blend in that new growth that will soon be emerging. This will keep you from looking like a chia pet. If your hair is starting to look lifeless, some volumizing products work wonders these days, too. - Valerie G.
- I shaved my head for St Baldricks 6 weeks post-op. - Gwen M.
- I dealt with it by getting a super short haircut at about the 6 month mark. I love this cut so much I don't think I'll be growing it long again. - AngryViking
- I couldn't truly find a successful way to manage my hair loss but I am happy to say that it did fully grow back and is thick as it was before I had surgery. It did take some time...so I think my best tip would be, give it time and have patience and in the meantime play with your hair. Try a new cut with layers, or even accessorize! I learned to love hats and head scarfs and still wear them from time to time. - Allison
Time to Check Your Labs!
- I experienced some hair loss between 4-6 months post op and it lasted a few months but eventually eased up. Often the stress of surgery can cause hair loss, but if it is severe or doesn't ease up I would suggested checking labs and being sure you are getting enough nutrients. - Sarah B.
- Aside from Telogen Effluvium, if you're more than a year post-op and losing hair, it's a definite queue for malnutrition. You'll want to get a nutritional panel done to see if there's something that needs attention. - Valerie G.
Tracy's Experience with Thinning Hair
I'm one of the people who had a HORRIBLE experience with hair loss. I had fine, thinning hair before surgery so this was a major concern for me; I almost reconsidered surgery because of my fears. My hair loss started right away, worsened at Month 5 post-op and continued until 1 year out. My hair guy estimates I lost at least half my hair, maybe more.
I'll list what I did before in the hopes of preventing it (nothing worked), what I tried after (most didn't work) and what finally worked for me:
Pre-op: About two months before surgery I started on Biotin, extra zinc, Vit D and an herbal remedy that I can't remember now.
Immediately post-op: I continued with all the above. However, I began having immediate shedding after surgery so I tried different shampoos - Nioxin and a couple other ones recommended on the internet. Don't bother. What DID help: going longer in between shampoos and getting my hair cut into a super-short pixie. Also began using Toppik, a hair fiber powder to cover the bare spots.
At about 10-12 months post-op: I was getting desperate and actually ordered a wig but couldn't bring myself to wear it. Even though it was high-quality it just looked stupid and was too big of a difference between what my hair actually looked like.
Because I had hair issues before surgery, my doctor agreed to put me on 100mg of Spironolactone (google it for more info). My hair loss lessened considerably over the first couple weeks and then I started getting some good regrowth.
At 21 months post-op: My hair is back to where it was before surgery but remember it wasn't perfect then...but I can deal with it. My hair is super healthy now according to my hair guy and the strands are much thicker and stronger than they were in the first year post-op. I continue to take Biotin, a little extra zinc and Vit D. And I still don't wash my hair every day. But I've foregone any herbal supplements or special shampoos. - Tracy D
Perspective from Bec McDorman, R.D. Student
Losing 5-15% of your natural hair is completely normal after WLS. This is due to a combination of events, including the trauma from weight loss surgery, or in fact, any surgery. During this time, your body starts forming acute phase proteins to boost immunity in response to physical stress, which depletes the amino acid supply that would normally be used to continue to grow healthy hair and to build new hair. Hair loss is also due to the malabsorptive properties of WLS, as the body is not getting as much protein as it needs to continue hair growth (and nail growth). The body would much rather use your protein intake to build new muscle that helps it move throughout your day, rather than to grow hair that doesn’t truly serve much purpose.
Although hair loss is an unfortunate side effect of WLS, it doesn’t have to limit you. To combat both of these side effects of WLS, it is vital for all post-ops to consume a diet high in protein, as well as a diet with a variety of protein. Make sure that you take all of your vitamins recommended by your surgeon, as they will help your body efficiently process the protein that you eat in order to build healthier hair. Regular blood work after surgery can also help you determine whether or not you’re at risk of a vitamin deficiency. Many feel the need to add biotin to their supplement regimen; however, please understand that while adding biotin will alleviate a current deficiency, once your body is back at normal biotin levels, the boost to your hair growth from taking biotin will plateau. So consider the cost of biotin supplementation against the limited benefit of taking it on a regular basis. Your blood work can also tell you if you are taking excessive vitamin amounts that could be detrimental, such as high amounts of vitamin A or zinc. If you feel like diet and supplementation are not enough to battle your post-op weight loss, please talk to your primary care provider about additional methods. - Bec McDorman
Perspective from Kristy Gerry, Cosmetologist
There are several common causes of hair loss. Besides genetics, most causes of hair loss are temporary. Anesthesia used during surgery can cause hair loss by disrupting your hairs natural cycle. Sometimes after surgery, you will notice excessive shedding several months later. Medications, malnutrition, hormonal imbalance, and stress are other common causes of hair loss. I've found in my 12 years as a Cosmetologist, most of these are temporary and the hair will grow back.
Some things that you can do to help minimize hair loss are to make sure you eat at least 60 grams of protein each day. You can also try taking vitamin supplements of Zinc, Vitamin E and Biotin. Biotin is in the family of the B Vitamins which you're your body to deal with stress. -Kristy Gerry, Cosmetologist
