Hair Loss?

Do a lot of people suffer hair loss after surgery? If so-Which surgery seems to cause the most hair loss? How much hair did you lose on average? Does it grow back or stay thin? Ive just read about quite a few people that have suffered hair loss on their personal page, and wondered if this is the norm- Thanks, Heather in Pasadena

I think the primary reason for loosing your hair is a lack of protein, as long as you drink your protein shakes and get the recommended serving, you should be good.

I think a lot of people get some hair loss from the anasthesia and all. I had RNY and have lost loads of hair but I've had some issues too and still struggle to get enough protein in. I recently started taking Biotin daily though and it's improving already.

Hair loss comes from the anesthesia. It won't really mattr which surgery you have to prevent it. I did start using some special shampoos for thinning hair. It is a bit expensive, but I noted that my hair loss slowed tremendously when I used it. I also cut my hair as it started to look very bad. I think that helped. I have heard from others that the hair grows in thicker afterwards. Mine remained the same. My mother tried from the time I was a little girl to get my hair to thicken. Never happened and I doubt it ever will.

Any surgery can cause hair loss cause of the Anastasia but the lack of vitamins and protein with weight loss surgery can be a factor as well.  I was losing hair and talk to my NUT about it and she had me check my Zinc levels.  They were low and now I am taking some Zinc and I see less hair coming out.

Hi Heather, Your body goes into shock losing rapidly. I had a significant amount of hair loss but I made sure to keep my protein up and take all my vitamins religiously and I take Biotin 1000 MCG a day and my hair is not falling like before and it has grown back in nicely.  

Thank you all for your help.  Im still nervous about it though...lol

Do you go to any support groups? Look around at your next meeting, and see if you notice anyone looking close to bald... I have very thick hair. I have always been very lucky that way. My birthmother had the same thickness hair, until she suffered from an unexplained liver problem a few years back. Right after that, she started losing rapidly. So, of course since I have those genes, I figure that will probably be me, any day now. To look at her, you wouldn't notice much difference. But... when I go to my support group, I look around at the post op patients, and I see very few that I would even notice thinning hair on. So... I'm encouraged that even if we were to lose some, or even a lot, that it wouldn't be that noticable, and it would grow back, as everyone I know who has lost some or even a lot, said it grew back.

I am 7months out and have not lost any hair. I dont know why. But I do take protein everyday.

I think its a lack of natural vitamins in general. Alot of people will only blame the lack of protein but I think I got in more protein after WLS than I did before. So, while lack of protein is a contributing factor, I believe its a total lack of natural vitamins and it will get better once your body adjusts to the new diet.