Question:
HAIR LOSS

I AM I YEAR AND 1 MONTH POST-OP LOST 79LBS AND STILL MY HAIR IS FALLING LIKE CRAZY. DOES ANYONE KNOW OF ANY MEDICATIONS TO TAKE OR DO I NEED TO GET A DOCTORS PRESCRIPTION? ALSO I HAVE ONLY LOST 80LBS IN A YEAR DOES THIS MEAN THAT I STOP HERE CAUSE I AM ABLE TO EAT ALL KINDS OF FOOD OF COURSE IN A SMALL PORTION.    — evienicole (posted on December 3, 2006)

December 3, 2006
From what I know and have read your hair falls out because you are not getting enough protein. check with your nutritionist but you may need about 60-70 grams of protein per day and if you are not keeping track, that could be the problem. The only supplement out there for hair loss is biotin. You can buy it at vitamin shoppe or GNC, I think 300 mg. is the recommended dose.
   — Sheri A.

December 3, 2006
Hi... Like the other respondent, I have heard that the hair loss is due, in great part, to the lack of protein. Re-evaluate how much you are taking in. The other thing is the Biotin. I am only 1 month post op and have been taking the high dose Biotin and have yet to notice any additional hair loss that is more than my usual. But, I am thinking that if it is going to start, it will do so in about 2 months from now. The Biotin you can purchase at any drug store in their vitamin and supplement section.... good luck
   — Kari_K

December 3, 2006
I am nine months out and the same thing happened to me. The bad thing was my hair was baby fine and thin to begin with. I was told it was temporary...some people experience that side effect of the surgery. It is from the shock of losing weight so quickly. Like previous posts suggested, up your protein and take Biotin daily. By upping your protein, I suggest you still include a protein drink or two daily. Nectar's Cappuccino is very good. It is a nice addition to a daily plan of your protein. My hair is coming in thicker now and it is about an inch long. By Spring it should be good I hope. Every person is different. I have underactive thyroid for example. Know that it is normal to lose hair and the good news is, it is only temporary. I read articles stating the body only absorbs about 30 grams of protein at a meal. Anything more at a given meal doesn't get absorbed. You need to get your protein in at all meals. Thats why you want to eat protein first.
   — Cath

December 3, 2006
80 pounds in a year is pretty good! Congratulations! Try eating more protein, maybe a shake ( yep, I know they taste awful!)
   — Novashannon

December 4, 2006
Congrats on the weight loss! I too am suffering from hair loss as are my three co-workers who also had the surgery. Biotin and protein help but I spoke with a gal whose dad is an anesthesiologist and he told her that the anesthesia also contributes to the hair loss.
   — genuinebarbie

December 4, 2006
Hi I am 2 yrs post op as of Dec. 10th I still have hair loss . I cant drink the protein drinks they make me gag and meat is so hard to get down . I do take biotin and zink . Seems not to be working well for me . So I am hoping that your post will give us both some answers we can use =-)
   — LongBeachDiva

December 4, 2006
I lost hair 4 months after my first WLS, 4 months after my revision, 4 months after my TT and so on. I take 180g protein supplement daily, but it didn't change that post-op loss. However, now at 12 yrs out, my hair is much shinier and stronger than it was. Wish I could say it's thicker, but no, same as pre-op. There are literally hundreds of protein drinks out there on the market, so I'm sure you'll find one you like and can drink several times per day. I do 6 drinks of 30g each, no milk, no sugar.
   — vitalady

December 5, 2006
Hi! I am going on 6 years post-op and at 4 years post my hair was falling out! It was awful! I ended up having a blood test done and found out that I was SEVERELY anemic. Once I got that under control, with diet and iron pills, my hair began to come back. It's not as thick as when I was a kid, but it's still 100% better than it was! So, my advice would be to have bloodwork done, it's possible you are anemic. I look at pictures of myself from that time and cringe.. thin hair, pasty white skin, sores at the corners of my mouth, strange cravings (HAD to have pork rinds! LOL). Once my iron levels came up, all of that was gone! Good luck in your journey and don't be afraid to talk to your doctor!
   — Kath442