Biotin

Hello!  I'm almost 3 months out from RNY (1/14/2013) and I'm wondering if any of you have added Biotin to your dietary supplements to prevent or minimize hair loss?   I haven't seen much loss yet, and I've been carefully watching my protein and taking my other vitamins but I'm really don't want to lose big chunks of my hair.  A friend gave me biotin gel caps and suggested I try them.  Before adding anything, I figured I would check with all of the experts here.  I don't want to do anything that will slow my weight loss or mess up or cause other damage.  Any advice would greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Looks like you are doing great.  I started bioten a few months before and took it religiously until maybe my first anniversary.  I did still lose hair, pretty much and it wasn't full to begin with.  I don't see that it did anything.  You really are late starting if you start now even if it would do anything.  I thought I had dodged the bullet but it just started late, around 6 months instead of the usual 3 months.  Sorry, I think either you will or won't and other than keeping up your protein, there isn't much you can do.  My protein numbers were always good,  didn't keep me from losing.  The only positive is when it grew back, it is curley.  I have always had dead straight hair so curls were a pleasent surprise.

ALL it did for me was make my chin hair grow...did nothing for the hair on top of my head...so I stopped it. Good luck and really, the hair loss is gonna happen, just consider it a small price to pay for your health and embrace it...I cut mine really short to help it look better...now I am growing it back out some.

I never thought about the facial hair when I started taking this.  I'll have to watch for this.  Thanks for mentioning it.

I took biotin since presurgery and still do. I experienced hair loss presurgery due to what we thought was psoriasis on my scalp.  I think it helped but I agree with Price...if you havent had any hair loss yet and keep your protein levels up, you don't need it.

good luck!

~~jennifer

Biotin and Primrose Oil (in tablets) ...lost hair anyhow but when it started to fill in again I think it made it super healthy..and yes all the other hair grows like mad as well...LOL...losing the hair was the most stressful part but it does grow back in...it's the surgical procedure that does it...

 

I'm always interested to read threads on hair loss.  I started losing my hair in gobs at a little over 2 months.  My protein levels are good, and my labs at 3 months do not show any real concerns.  So I don't think good protein levels will keep it on your head either. 

I read that Biotin would help, but I see the point being made that it takes weeks before Biotin kicks in and at that point I will have gone 2-3 months of hair loss without it.  I started taking it 2 weeks ago and it hasn't done anything yet. 

Thanks for all the information.  I guess I'm going to hope for the best. Fortunately, I have very think long hair and I'm looking at the options for when it falls out.  I'm getting married for the first time in June and really don't want to be missing chunks.  So has anyone tried hair extensions?

I have really thick hair and never had any noticeable hair loss. No more than I normally had. I never had chunks of hair fall out.
I think it might be like loose skin some have it and some don't.
Good luck and congratulations on your wedding!!

Also - being a RNY'er, the "gel" caps aren't your best option.  For one their oily and we malabsorb oil - 2, I was told NOT to take gel caps as they can get caught up in our intestines and cause some serious issues since we don't have anything but saliva breaking them down.

I never took biotin.  I did make sure my protein was in the high levels - I still lost hair, but not until about the 7-8 month timeframe.  I've always had thick hair, so I didn't miss it much.

But for the past 9 months or so my hair has been falling out a lot again - and I stopped drinking my protein shakes about that time... hmm..