Question:
Correlation between hair and weight loss

Hi Everyone: I am 5 months post op lap rny. So far, thank God, I have not had hair loss. In addition, I have not lost huge amounts of weight, but a slow and steady 1-2 pounds per week, almost every week. Does anyone find a correlation between slow, steady weight loss and NOT losing hair. Has this happened to anyone else before, who lost slowly, but did not lose hair? Thanks guys. Love Grace    — Grace H. (posted on January 24, 2003)

January 24, 2003
Grace, I had surgery about a week after you and have lost about 2 pounds less than you have. Our patterns of loss (described in your other question) are very similar. However, unfortunately I have lost A LOT of hair. It is getting worse every day.
   — Amber L.

January 24, 2003
Grace, I am 5 mos post op (Open RNY 8/15) and I haven't had any hair loss yet. I am down 87.5lbs. I attribute it to A LOT OF PROTEIN! However, the nutrionist said if I never lost hair before with weight loss, I probably wouldn't either. Who knows. Heather (Open RNY 8/15 - 305/218/150)
   — heathercross

January 24, 2003
I've come around to the view that in most cases, weight loss rate and protein intake have or nothing to do with hair loss. Some people just react that way to anesthesia, or the trauma of surgery, and have reported hair loss when their surgeries weren't even for WLS. I've had two major surgeries in the last year, and at about 2 1/2 months after each operation, lost hair for about 4 weeks or so. One surgery was WLS, and the other wasn't, so I now believe the folks who say protein intake, biotin, hair care products, weight loss rate, etc. have nothing to do with whether you'll have hair loss. :) Whatever the reason, it's temporary!
   — Suzy C.

January 25, 2003
I know when I hit 3 months post-op, just as everyone warned me, I started losing tons of hair. I started taking vitamins for my hair, it helped a lot. Now, 9.5 post-op I am back to normal. I have had some regrowth for the past 2 months. I know some people don't feel there's no correlation between the two, but I think there is. I didn't lose hair like that when I had the VBG ten years ago. I just know my dr even warned me of it. You are just lucky!!
   — bevewy

January 25, 2003
I am 8 months post op and have never lost any hair. I've lost my weight at a pretty decent rate..so far am down 97 lbs. I am not doing anything special..just trying to get in my protein and take my vitamins. I think some people just don't lose hair and I hope that I am not going to start! ;)
   — sheltie

January 25, 2003
At 5 1/2 months, I'm losing fast with no hair loss, but don't attribute it to anything. I'm not taking anything, I'm not even always getting in all my protein! Just lucky, I guess!
   — jen41766

January 25, 2003
I have had several surgeries, and after each one I lost hair. I am the slow loser queen, and at 14 mo. post-op, I am going through hair loss again, my 3rd time. I do lots of protein, and not losing much weight these days, so I think that maybe I am just really suseptible to hair loss. But I'm at goal, so the hair loss really doesn't bother me. If I went bald, which is unlikely, I would just get a wig. I'm just lovin' life!
   — Cheri M.

January 29, 2003
I started to loose my hair about 2-3 months post-op and I mean I lost it by the brushfulls! I am now 5 months (my surgery date Aug 14th 2002) and I have lost so much hair that I could see through it (I started out with very thick curly hair) I have (and I hope that they are right that your hair grows back) Hopefully you'll be one that it doesn't happen to. I'll take a temporary hair loss :-) Good luck !! God Bless Gail
   — Gail H.