just at 4 months and losing hair :(

 Hello everyone , 

i'm just at my 4 month surgery anniversary and lately I've been noticing that my hair is falling out more than I had expected. The surgeon and dietitian had warned me that my hair would fall out a little bit because of rapid weight-loss but it seems to be falling out quite a bit. I started taking a hair and nail supplement a few weeks ago and I haven't noticed a difference. My blood work came back a few weeks ago and it was perfectly fine.  Just wondering if anyone else has experience this and if so how long did it take for your hair to return to normal ? Thanks in advance

Yes, it was shocking.  I thought for sure that I would be bald in no time at the rate my hair fell out.

Then like magic at 6.5 months I started getting little fuzz on my head.  My hair is still falling out some, but the rate has slowed drastically.  Try not to stress (I know it's easier said than done), it will stop falling out and it will grow back.

Hair loss is very common after surgery, it's called telogen effluvium. Most folks seem to experience it starting at month 4, and continuing through maybe months 8 or 9. Sadly, supplements and fancy shampoo won't do a thing for it.

Some people use hair-thickening powder to help hide the bald spots, and I sometimes used eyeshadow on my scalp (weird but it worked!). Going for a short, shaggy haircut can help if you're open to a new style, and some people even try wigs or clip-in extensions.

I had my surgery just 3 days after yours, and have been white knuckling every shower and every morning for fear hair loss.  My hair is very thin/fine and I can't afford to lose any.  I had hoped that at 120 days out I was safe, but a recent thread I started has set me straight.  I guess it can still happen at any time.

I'm sorry it's happening to you.  Hope you have lots of hair and that it won't show much.  And as they say - it WILL grow back.  But I feel for you.  

I am so frightened about this part, my surgery is Friday and I keep thinking about the hair loss part.

I admit that I was super lucky in that I have very thick hair to start with, and my loss was minimal (I think I lost more after my pregnancies!). However, I made sure to keep on top of my protein goals as much as I could. While meeting your daily protein and vitamin goals and taking a biotin/hair supplement will not guarantee you won't lose hair, it will certainly help in keeping the loss from being significant. Good luck!

I had a severe case of hairloss. My hair was long thick and curly before surgery. About 6 months after surgery it fell out in chunks. It was terrible. I did everything I was supposed to do. I took hair supplements for months before surgery and afterwards. I got as creative as I could styling my hair. Finally I had to cut it off to the shortest length of my hair. I was absolutely devastated. I wore hats and headbands. I eventually had to buy ponytail wraps and then half wigs and full wigs. It is a pain but I've grown to like the wigs and hats. My response probably won't give you any comfort but this is my story. There was nothing I could change to bring about a different outcome. Keep taking all your supplements and getting your bloodwork taken. My protein has ran low but I believe it is an absorbtion issue. Nothing I can do at this point but make sure I do my part by consuming lots of protein.

i hope you don't have the loss I did. My case was a severe one. No one I have come across has had this bad of hairloss. I eventually came to except that for me it is what it is. Someone once suggested it is a way to keep us humble from all the compliments we receive.

 I am 18 months out and my hair started past my waist and is now maybe 6 inches long. The hairloss has stopped now I just wait for growth. Hopefully it will return as thick and curly as it once was.

Knowing the outcome I would still have the surgery. My only regret is I wish I would have had it when my kids were younger.

My surgeon feels the Biotin may help with the grow back but not the loss. The vets in support group always say "No one here is bald" so it grows back....

I have a friend who is all but bald!  Poor thing. 

It sucks.  

It grows back.  :-)

Hugs.