Question:
Four months out and shedding...

I had my surgery at the end of April (Lap to open RnY). I am down 76 pounds and have noticed that my hair is falling out. I have to wear a dark sweater at work and the back of it looks like I layed down in a cats bed! My car has black seat covers and I could spend ten minutes a day picking the hair off of the one I sit in. The other day while driving to work, I noticed my long curly hair on the dashboard of my car. This morning I was on my way to work and I noticed one of my long curly hairs stuck to the windshield wiper on the outside of my car (this is not a joke). My hair isn't thick. It is regular. I have an appointment to get my hair colored (I am WAY overdue) on Friday and get a TRIM. Should I still do this and when will it stop? HELP!    — Marcy G. (posted on August 26, 2003)


August 26, 2003
I can certainly relate with this one. My hair started falling out at about 3.5 months post-op and now at barely 5 months post-op it has finally started to slow down. I know this can be distressing but it is entirely normal. I have heard to try Biotin; however, I myself never did this but I guess it's worth a shot. I have increased my protein intake within the last three weeks or so, perhaps that has helped or maybe my body has just started to adjust. Anyway, to answer your question regarding getting your hair colored now, I waited about a month when I desperately needed mine done and I finally had it colored about two weeks ago and I haven't noticed any difference since then in the amount of hair that I lost. I can't promise that you will get the same results so it's best to consult with your stylist and see if he/she is comfortable and if they are....go for it! Good luck and congrats on your great weight loss! Denise RNY 3/20/03 -98lbs
   — denisel

August 26, 2003
Your hair loss is from rapid weight loss. I can't remember who posted this, but someone posted article from a dermotologist. My doctor's assistant also told me it's from rapid weight loss. I started losing my hair at 6 weeks out. I'm at 12 weeks right now and I don't expect my hair to stop falling out any time soon. It's very frustrating, but I'd rather have hair loss than be MO. It will slow down as your weight loss slows.
   — cinthygrady

August 26, 2003
My hair is falling out in gobs as well. If you check the library you will see that we are not alone. It is a common occurance for many RNY patients.
   — M B.

August 26, 2003
I disagree that the hair loss is from rapid weight loss. It is from the trauma of surgery or the anesthesia. I have had two major surgeries prior to the WLS and in each case, like clockwork, hair started falling out at around 3 months post-op and last for about 3 months. My hairdresser said she sees this all the time and advised no perm (or color), nothing to stress the hair further while its falling out-go out and get a short, cute doo until it stops falling out.
   — Cindy R.

August 26, 2003
I still color my hair. I don't want to be half bald AND gray. I don't notice any difference in the loss whether I color or not. I have been losing it from 2 months and at 7 months I am just seeing regrowth and a little slow down in the loss. I got a great suggestion from my hairdresser about washing my hair. I used to do it every day or at least 5 times a week. I now wash it maybe 3 times a week and in between I wet it in the shower and run conditioner (a little bit) through it and rinse it thouroughly. You would be surprised how clean it leaves my hair and it gets all of the previous days' styling products out. AND believe it or not it is both softer looking and fuller looking. I am not sure of the reason for hair loss but this was my 4th surgery and the first time I have lost hair like this. I have averaged about 80+ grams of protein per day as well as vitamins, etc... I do find that prenatals work better and I also use a great product by Progaine called Root Lifter that really adds fullness and helps my style last all day.
   — Carol S.

August 26, 2003
I had WLS 2 years ago, 4 major surgeries before that and each time I had hair loss from the anesthesia. I took Biotin and within 2 weeks the hair loss stopped. I took 1000 mg aday. My dodctor said to take zinc but it made me sick, all I ever took was the Biotin. Hope this helps.
   — Valerie M.

August 26, 2003
I don't recommend getting any chemical treatments right now. Your hair is basically in shock and you don't want to stress it out any more than it already is. The hair cut can actually help your hair to grow a little faster. The hair loss is normal and will stop at about 6-8 months post-op. When it grows back though, it may be different. My hair has grown back darker and wavier. I like the change though. P.S. Some people feel that shorter hairstyles can hide the loss better, I don't know if that's true or not. Good luck!
   — cjabates

August 26, 2003
I just read about this over the weekend and was suprised. Apparently, hair loss is generally caused by protein deficiency. The catch is, that you won't see the effects of it for 3 months. In other words, being deficient right after surgery wont show up in your hair loss for about 3 months. The reverse of course is also true, eating more protein now is great to get you where you are suposed to be, but it won't correct the hair problem for about 3 months. It was news to me too, but according to most of the posts I read, the math works out! good luck
   — Angela T.

August 26, 2003
As a nurse, I can tell you that the hair loss is not always caused by low protein. In some people it is but in others it is caused from anesthesia and the trauma of surgery. Mine is thin and is coming out by the handfuls. I am 6 months out so i am hoping it will stop soon. I have had several major surgeries and each time my hair has come out. Once I even had to wear a wig!!!!!!. The good news is it comes back. Some take vitamins and swear by them, for others, who have tried zinc and biotin, it is useless. you just never know. It depends on the idividual person.
   — Delores S.

August 26, 2003
I was told to use Nioxin. My hair dresser sells it and uses it herself. But as the other post said, I wouldn't use it right now. Give your body a chance to rejuvenate itself. I was told that people lose some hair because of the anesthesia and also the decreased vitamins your body isn't getting at first. I would wait a few months. The hair will start to grow back and you can start using Nioxin then. Dying it might not be a good idea either...might lose even more hair...but I don't know about that. Just my 2 cents...
   — d4short

August 26, 2003
Hi Marcy, Yes this is very normal... they say it usually stops around the 7th month..so hang in there... mine is still coming out too... I keep my hair braided all day so I dont shed all over.... this is some kind of reaction of shock our body goes through when having surgery.. so just remember it will stop soon.. and keep up on your protein... Karen
   — Karen Wyatt

August 26, 2003
I will agree with Cindy. Pretty sure the hair loss is caused from the trauma of surgery and the after affects of all that anesthesia. SOME of us had MASSIVE amounts of anesthesia too, I'd bet! My sister had the lap procedure and she was 90 lbs lighter than I was at he time of our surgeries. She did not lose her hair. I lost it by the handfuls. Started around the 2nd or 3rd month and lasted a couple of months. I had a color in there somewhere and it didn't make anything any worse. I also don't think there is anything that will prevent hair loss if you are so inclined. (Open RNY 10/30/02 minus 198 lbs and hair has grown back!)
   — Ginger M.

August 26, 2003
Like anyone cares, but.... I am minus 189 lbs. I WISH 198!! LOL
   — Ginger M.

August 26, 2003
I also have that problem and it started at about the same time. My hair dresser also suggested Nioxon. My PCP said that Selenium which is found in some multivitamins helps with hair loss but too much of it can cause you to loose. I take "Hair Skin and Nails" which has selenium. You may want to ask your PCP about you using it. Hope it helps RNY 1-27-03 down 101 lbs
   — rwormington

August 26, 2003
Let me tell you....I know all about this! Mine hair started falling out about 3 months after surgery and it lasted 3-4 months. I just KNEW I was going to go bald! But relax.....you don't go bald, and it usually isn't noticeable to anyone but you. Like other posters said, this often happens due to the trauma of surgery and anesthesia, but in our case a BIG part of it is the fact that part of our weight loss surgery that makes it work for us is that we now have malabsorption.....especially in the beginning, we just aren't getting enough nutrients so we lose our hair. Just be sure to get in your protein and water and any hair that you lose will soon grown back! Good luck!
   — Lynette B.

August 27, 2003
My already thin hair started falling out at two and half months, and is continuing at five months out. I've tried everything--increased protein, Hair, Nails and Skin vitamins, selenium, zinc, B complex vitamins, vitamin E, vitamin C, biotin (I've taken all of these every day since before surgery to no avail). My only comfort is that it will grow back. However, I've been dying my graying hair for almost 20 years. I refuse to be both bald and gray, so I've continued to have it colored every five weeks. It has not affected the rate of loss for me (it's not worse). I do have it professionally done, so maybe those chemicals are a little less stressful on the hair than the stuff you buy at the drugstore? I don't know.
   — Vespa R.




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