How do you manage hair loss after surgery?

Time for another OH Community Tips! We often get emails, see threads or talk with people that are concerned about hair loss after surgery. We want to know how you managed hair loss after surgery? Did you take supplements? Use a special shampoo? Share your tips!

*We will turn this topic into a blog post with some of your helpful tips to further help the OH Community on their journey. Blog posts are shared on the OH Social Media pages.

Now, c'mon Sarah, you know that supplements and shampoos don't prevent or treat Telogen Effluvium.  They will befefit the NEW hair when it's growing in - but it's still going to push out the old.

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, there are so many different experiences I've seen throughout the years. For me it's always been more TE, and that's a good thing to include in tips, that some is just a normal reaction to the stress of surgery. I've always had thick hair and I have always "shed" at my worse health/highest weight I was experiencing a lot of hair loss more than normal and I could tell it was getting thinner, it was one of many concerns that prompted me to seek more/better medical help about my weight. About 4-6 months after my RNY I noticed the increase in "shedding" again, it lasted a few months. I experienced the same after my hernia repair/panni it occurred again...more than normal shedding but since it was already thick never appeared thin. 

Now, 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.

I saved all the hair and made sweaters for the men in my life.......!! LOL

omg

I shaved my head for St Baldricks 6 weeks post-op. 

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 ho****er. Always use conditioner. Took my vitamins prescribed from my doctor after wls.