Hair Loss/Hair Thinning

My surgery was on Spet. 12 and I feel great. I have lost 71 pounds now and can eat almost anything (except sugar, of course and a few other things that just don't set well). Anyway... So, I was told that hair loss/hair thinning is normal, and that it will all start to grow back after a while. I have pretty thin hair to begin with, so I am becoming quite alarmed when I take a shower and the drain is clogged with my hair each day. I am using drano like crazy to unclogg it. How long does this situation last? I am taking my vitamins religiously, intaking enough protein grams, diet is fine, etc., and don't think that a poor diet/nutrition is causing me to lose so much hair. I also read that the hair loss will happen anyway, because of the way the body uses/diverts its protein stores. I also read somewhere that taking extra biotin woud not help; neither would adding extra protein to the diet. I'm using Nioxin shampoo and treatment just to help keep the hair that I do have left in good condition. Don't get me wrong...I still have hair left, but am wondering how long this is going to go on before it starts growing back and I quit losing so much of it. Anyone know, or have had similar experience?

Hi Jodi, I know exactly what you're going through!!! I've been told that the hairloss would begin in the 5th month and end around the 9th month. Well, I'm in my 5th month now and boy am I losing it. I've taken Bioxin (5,000 mg) per day since before my surgery (9/11) and while my hair is in good condition, I am losing tons of it; especially around my temples. I have long hair and would prefer to keep it that way. My hair dresser just cut 2 more inches off (she said the longer the hair the more it pulls it out). There's really nothing to do but wait it out and hope it doesn't get too thin. I have thin hair also. But there's the weird thing. I think the Biotin is changing my hair. My hair used to be very thin and straight as a board. Now I'm getting body in it, it's actually curling somewhat at the ends and middle. Weird huh? I'm just hanging in until my 9th month and see what happens. Good luck to you! Donna

REALLY GLAD YOU POSTED THIS!!! My surgery was 9/7, I've lost almost 90lbs and feeling great. The ONLY issue that's really concerning me is this hairloss. I've always had BIG 80's hair, now it's soooo thin! I'm doing the same, getting lots of protein and water daily (70-80g/day), using Nioxin thinning products, taking 1000mg calcium/day and multivitamin's, B1, B12, etc... Just had a comprehensive blood test, all levels are in GREAT shape. Seems this is just par for the course...I wi**** would stop. I've always had long hair (shoulder length to mid back) and now I'm thinking I really should cut it because it's so thin. Problem is... I'm getting married 10/7 and I'd really like to have hair then. Ugh... any input on when this will stop or what we can do to help prevent it is much appreciated. (FYI, I did stop washing it every day, only doing so every other day now.) Thanks again for the post! Renee

Hey Jodi, congrats on your progress. I am also 5 months out and down about 80lbs. I have long, thicker hair but started thinning at about 4 months. I do take Biotin, I have been since month 1 then when my hair started thinning I upped the dosage to 5,000mcg from 1,000mcg. It's working well for me, my nails and skin are proof and actually the hair loss is going to happen reguardless but I only have strands breaking off at the ends under neath my hair, not like balding at the crown or anything. I think this is from taking the Biotin, (also because I started taking it very early on, reving up my engine-if you will!) it may still be thinning but could be ALOT worse, I have no clumpage! And whoever said taking in more protein wouldn't work is jsut retarded! That's the key! Yes you will loose hair, it's inevitable with any weight loss surgery or not, but the reasoning is because your not taking in as many nutrients like protein. Actually this does stop when weight stabalizes, you hit your goal, BUT what I learned this week is that no matter how far out you are, if at any point your fall off the wagon and aren't taking in as much protein as you should, it will thin again and fall out. A lady I know is 4 years out and started loosing her hair again, because she said she hasn't been eating right and laking on the protein so make sure you do your part!

I so hear you ! My thick hair is almost all gone ! I cut it short in an attempt to hide how thin it is. Hasn't helped but at least I am using less drano ! I wonder when it will stop . I hope soon. It can't go on forever or can it ! I feel your pain : ( Paula

Hi Jodi, congrats on your weight loss so far. I had RNY on 9/25/06 and have lost 93#. But, with that loss has come the loss of a lot of hair, too. I had thin, fine hair to begin with so I couldn't afford to lose any. My stylist cut my hair really short to try to take the emphasis off the thinning. It didn't work. Last week, I got a wig. It wasn't what I wanted to do but I am glad I did. Someone asked me if the hairloss was temporary... I said yes, they then asked when will it come back? I told them it has to stop leaving first. So, for now, I wear a wig and it feels good and I feel better. I figured if this is the only setback I have from getting healthier, I'll take it. Have a great week! Jill G

Hi, Jill! Let me know how things are going for you! If the wig works, I may consider doing the same if I lose too much more hair. Thanks for the tip. You're right...it's not too bad of a setback. I'd rather have this to deal with vs. the obesity and going back to the way things were before surgery. Good luuck to you and let me know how things go!

Hi Jodi, I too started experiencing hairloss two months ago, but taking Biotin 5000mg 2x a day and upping my protein to an average of 125grams per day has all but stopped my hair loss. I've always had very fine hair and couldn't afford to lose much more. So far my hair feels much better and a bit fuller. Best of luck. Gladys

Hi Jodi, I am about 6 months out and my hair thinning..not loss.. started at about the 4th month. My hair is only thinning from the bottom when I pull at it, like splitting/breaking ends, luckily no thinning from the crown-can't complain. I started taking Biotin at my 1st month and upped the dosage to 5,000mcg when the hair loss started, I think that has contributed to my minimal hair loss. You are going to loose hair inevitably because your loosing weight, surgery or not your just not getting nutrients like you were, but you can minimalize it, which is what I have done a good job of. I don't count my protein like I did in the beginning so I would say the vitamins are a big help. My skin and nails are in really good condition which is part of the Biotin so I highly recommend it. My hair lady also told me to use leave in conditioner daily and to use a protein mask (like pantein) once a week, leave it in for 5 minutes and it restores the moisture. I also ditched the cheap herbal essences shamp and condit and went with something from the professional's store, I have back to Basics raspberry and almonde, so I am actually doing well! I hope this helps you, good luck!

I started losing hair around month 3. It was coming out in handfuls! Yikes...I am taking biotin and extra amino acid suppositories as well as protein, and it didn't seem to make much of a difference. I did cut my hair a lot shorter and that helped, and I use this great product from Bed Head called "thickening paste". It really made a difference in how thin it looked. Now that I'm hitting the 6 month mark I am definitely seeing a slowdown in hair loss, now I don't fill the shower and I can actually wash my hair more than twice a week without. I still lose some when I bru**** but it's not nearly as bad as it was. And I'm getting a "fuzzy halo" where the hair is starting to grow in on top again. Well, I guess it's the only halo I'm ever going to be wearing in this life so I'm not complaining