Hair Loss

Hi Everyone, I am from the August 2005 Messageboard. We are all losing tons of hair. They say it will stop six , seven months post op. Has yours stopped? Any feedback on this subject is appreciated. We are all afraid we will need to get wigs or something. Thanks Diana 263/193/135

Hi Diana, It is pretty typical to lose the hair and thankfully it does slow down. Some of us are noticing our hair texture is somewhat brittle as well and dryer than usual. Many find taking biotin helps with the loss and regrowth. Several others have tried it and haven't found success with it. Perhaps that is an idea. It is very disturbing when we lose hair and especially when we begin to show balding. Which I have been experiencing. My hairdresser showed me some tricks in using the hot curling iron pulled backwards past where I part the hair on the side and it helps it disguise the balding spot (front center) After practicing several times I am getting the knack. Also a product that lifts from the roots can make the hair to appear fuller. I wish I could offer you a solution. I sympathize with you totally. My daughter keeps encouraging me to buy the generic of Rogaine because it has helped her with regrowth. By the way she found the name brand Rogaine to be oily causing the hair to get greasy. I wish the best to you and your August posters. Welcome aboard. Congratulations on your great weight loss! Mary

hey bari buddy... lol. I am over here doing the same thing.... the hunt for hair loss end!

Hi Diana- I've had a ton of weight loss, but at about 6 months I started taking pre-natal vitamins and shampooing with Nioxin twice a week. I've noticed a huge improvement, I even have baby bangs growing in! Hang in there, it's temporary!

Diana, I was losing handfuls of hair, but it stopped almost completely about a month and a half ago. It's rather disturbing, but the good news is that it does end! My hair is still more brittle than before, but like others I'm conditioning it more than ever and it's much more managable than before. It's all well worth it for the benefits of WLS. Good luck to you and know that the hair loss WILL eventually end! ~Wanda 294/183/130

My hair loss started in August (3 months post-op (6 months after start of pre-op weight loss)). Think it stopped the heavy shedding in October or so. It is filling back in so baby hairs galore. The condition is called telogen effluvium. I had it years ago from losing weight quickly following Weigh****chers. I had blood tests and saw a dermatologist. More hair go into a resting stage than normal and the resting ones fall out. I would agree with Vicki - I think my hair went to 50/50. The reason for the telogen effluvium is a stress on the body - obviously a rapid weight loss is a stress. Many folks feel the hair loss after WLS is from the anesthesia, lack of protein, vitamin deficiencies...since I had it before in my life without any of those things...I feel it is rapid weight loss driven therefore there really isn't anything you can do to stop it or fix it. Time fixes it. The texture of my hair changed like Wanda mentioned. It is much coarser. I suspect that because we don't absorb much fats that causes your skin to be dryer and your hair as well. I've been using an olive oil based soap on my skin and putting almond oil on it. Seems to be helping a bit. Best wishes, Kathy

Mine just started about 7 months post op! It's shedding a lot, but luckily I have a ton of hair!

Hi, Diana! Welcome to May'sville! I started losing my hair at about 2 months out and it continued until around 5 months. I started losing earlier than most and stopped losing earlier than most, but it lasted about the same amount of time. My hair is now growing back (I've got lots of little short hairs all over my hair!) and I noticed that a few weeks ago. You may get some very thin spots (I've got a few) but not to worry! I was one of the lucky ones that started with EXTREMELY thick hair (like couldn't hardly see my scalp) so not many people noticed it, but I did! I used to be able to get the BIG pony tail holders around my pony tail 2, maybe 3 times. I can now wrap it around at least 4 sometimes 5 times. It used to take 2 complete (down to the last drop) bottles of hair color to do my hair, now I don't even finish 1 so I know I've lost 1/2 of my hair. But, like I said, it does stop!! Nothing you can do to stop it now, but keep the protein up and it will stop eventually. HTH! Michelle 340/225/???

8 months and its coming back!!!Yippee!

Mine started to fall out at 2 1/2 months post op and stopped at about 6 months. I still have some loss but not anything like before. My hair is much thinner now but the thin spots are filling in now finally! It will end. I wont say dont worry it grows back because I was about ready to kill the next person who said that to me! Just drink ur fluids and take ur vitamins and you should see an end soon! hugsssssss krista