Question:
O.K., it's been a year AND still the hair loss....

I just had my one year anniversary last week and I'm down 130 lbs.!! I'm thrilled, EXCEPT, when is my hair going to be back to normal??? Or is it? Although it's not falling out in huge amounts anymore (started at 4 months), I am still losing more than usual. My hair was always my big attention getter because it was long, thick and pretty. Now it's like I have someone else's hair. I don't even recognize it. I cut it fairly short and I'm about to have to cut it even shorter because it looks so bad. The texture isn't even the same. I get plenty of protein and take all my vitamins religously. Has anyone else's hair taken this long to get back to normal?    — Kathy S. (posted on February 1, 2004)

February 1, 2004
I can relate to your problem. My hair didn't start falling out until 4 months post-op and it continued to fall out well past 1 year. I went from long, thick middle of the back length hair to really short, too. I'm not 20 months out and I've just finally started to notice it's coming back, and as you said, looking pretty again. Sort of. It's growing out, slowly, but it looks better. Keep in mind, it is completely normal for hair to fall out daily, even for "normal" people, so what you're seeing may just be the normal falling out. I know I still get nervous when I find 3 or 4 strands on my sink in the morning. Don't worry. It WILL stop!
   — KelBurt

February 1, 2004
Im almost 2 years post op and I still have to clean my brush in the mornings. Granted it is nothing like it was a few months after surgery but its still coming out a few strands at a time. I know what you mean about the texture, mine is not soft anymore and its really thin. I was told by my Dr to take Zinc so Ive been taking it daily for over a year now in addition to my vitamins. One thing that did help mine tremendously was getting a perm. Believe that or not. Might not help you but it did me. Made it feel really healthy. Hope this helps :)
   — margaret B.

February 1, 2004
Hi there. I'm almost 7 months out, started losing my hair at an alarming rate at 3 months. Like you, my hair was always my beauty: so thick and curly and long, so this was very hard for me to handle.<br> <br> I know others say "nothing works" and the hair loss will just have to "run its course," but I don't think it's a coincidence that my hair loss has now all but stopped - and about four weeks ago, i started taking biotin (which i bought at Wal-Mart) and liquid calcium citrate. my hair loss hasn't "tapered off," it's almost been like a faucet effect: up until about four or five days ago, my hair was still falling out (a brush-FULL every day), and now i'm losing about 10 strands a day (that *I* see) at the most.<br> <br> It <b>may</b> be coincidental, but for the 7.50 i paid for the calcium and the 4.00 i paid for the biotin, it's a small price to pay for trying something that MAY work for you. Good luck! (Open PROXIMAL RNY, 7/7/03, 227/157/>132)
   — sweetmana

February 1, 2004
Could you please tell me what Biotin is and where in the store you found it, I will try anything.....lol
   — Saxbyd

February 1, 2004
Boy, can I relate! I am over 2 years out, and have JUST found my solution! My hair has been thinning the entire time, with it worse for month 3-6, and 8-11. I had to keep cutting it short because of the thinning. Every time I washed, conditioned, put a hair product in, whatever, I would have a web of hair in my hands. When I brushed, combed, dried, or toweled my hair, there would be more than what I was comfortable with. Well...I tried Nioxin for the first time 2 weeks ago, and WOW! There is no more 'hair webbing', no more hair on my towel, in my comb, on my shirt after drying. This stuff is AMAZING! I have seen it mentioned SO MANY times on this board in the last 3 years, but thought that I wouldn't 'buy into it'. I am so very happy that I took the chance. I'm raving all the time about it to my friends and they are probably sick of hearing about it, I am just too excited though! I hope you find your solution.
   — Cheri M.

February 1, 2004
Use Nioxin Shapmoo/Conditioner and treatment (for your hair type) - you will find it at JC Penneys or at a Hair Supply Store, ask a beautician to buy it for you, much cheaper than at the store. Within 2 weeks you will notice the difference. I use it and it works GREAT!!! Maryjean 244/160
   — Maryjean

February 1, 2004
I have been losing hair for 4 months. I have bare areas on my head and where there is hair - it's pretty thin. I eat right, get in the protein and I have tried every vitamin and shampoo under the sun. Nothing has worked.
   — M B.

February 1, 2004
I will be one year out next week and my hair is still falling out. It is very fine and now I have bald spots. I take all my vitamins plus the biotin and others for hair. i get all my protein in and more. i asked my surgeon and he said to save your money on all those vitamins and shampoos people use. it helps no one but the one that is selling it. he said the reason people think it helps is because the hair goes in three month cycles and in most people it normally stops coming out at about the same time it takes for the shampoos and stuff to work. he also said it isn't anything we are doing wrong and if it is going to happen, there is absolutely nothing that can be done about it. Mine has slowed down some and is coming back in. It is cut as short as I can have it and still say I have hair. Good luck and save your money and buy pretty clothese with it. One bottle of Nioxin will buy you a new outfit. (giggles) Or a pretty wig!
   — Delores S.

February 2, 2004
hi go to gnc and get there vitamins for hair and skin and nails has the botin in it i started to loose at 3mos went and got those and it clear up within a mo good luck
   — ROSEMARY A.

February 2, 2004
Has anyone studied the relation of hair loss to hormones?? Do men have the same problem with hair loss after WLS? Or do they just atribute it to being a man? Estrogen is stored in fat and when you loose fat you excrete extra Estrogen. Just a thought.
   — jenafwife

February 2, 2004
Delores, I used to think the exact same thing! Save your money, its just a hype! I thought that it was just a coincidence that all these people were using the Nioxin at about the same time that they were going through the phase of no hair loss. I have got to say that now I don't believe that anymore. I went through over 2 YEARS of hair fall out! After using this stuff, I will defend it until my dying day! Its great! What it does is increases circulation to your scalp. They even warned me that if I spill some on my skin, or it runs down my face from my scalp, that it will turn bright red, from the increase of circulation. This has happened to me, it is very temporary, and proves how powerful this stuff is.
   — Cheri M.

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