Question:
How to stop hair lost?
I'm three and half months post-op, 57 lbs lighter, and have began to loose a lot of hair. I always had thick hair and now I'm freaking out. How can I make it stop falling out and grow quicker? I also notice that my natural curls are going away. Is like my hair is dying or something!! A couple of people told me to take Biotin, but didn't find it at Walmart so I bought some formula that they sell especially for hair. It has Biotin, but not in high amounts. Any suggestions? — cedonato (posted on September 9, 2007)
September 9, 2007
Hi! You can buy Biotin at many places, and I am surprised Wal-Mart didn't
have it. Any drug store should carry it, and I would recommend it. Be sure
you are getting your multivitamin. The multis that are specifically
bariatric vitamins have biotin in it. Also, my hairstylist and friend
recommended Nioxin shampoo, conditioner and styling foam, as it was
designed for people with cancer, low thyroid, etc., who often lose their
hair. Even though I have not started to lose my hair, but am starting the
Nioxin as a safeguard. I was told to be sure to get the iron, calcium,
protein and B-12, and B-100 in as well. Good luck!
— KansasGal
September 9, 2007
Hi Carmen, I have been taking Biotin for about 5 months. My surgery was a
little over 4 months ago. My hair loss is not that bad. The biotin is made
by Rexall in a brown bottle with a yellow top with 5000 mcg. I notice the
texture of my hair changing so I started conditioning it more. I have also
started taking a product form Avon called Hair Care from within. It is too
soon to know what this is doing for my hair. Keep up the good work and I
hope this has helped. Vanessa
— Vanessa Dates
September 9, 2007
Unfortunately, you can't really prevent it. Hair loss happens to some and
for some it can be severe. My hair loss is finally slowing and I'm getting
new growth - but I'm 17 months post-op. I have been taking 5,000mcg twice
daily since about 4 months post, when this all began. I know it sucks...I
had really thick hair before and though the loss isn't noticeable to
others, I can certainly tell. I haven't tried Nioxin but I heard it's
really only worth it to take when your hair starts growing back - it won't
prevent loss. Your hair will grow back so try not to worry too much.
Changing your hairstyle might help and don't do anything to damage your
hair like color or perm it. And the more protein the better! Congrats on
the 57lbs! Good luck! ~Sarah in VA
— platypus
September 9, 2007
You have GOT to make sure you get at least 70 grams of protein in each day,
if not, it will result in hair loss. As another poster said, you can't
prevent it as the damage has already been done. It WILL slow or stop and
it WILL grow back, just be patient. I am almost 6 months out (end of this
month) and started losing my hair at about the middle of last month. Like
yours, my hair used to be thick, thank God at this point it's only thinned,
as my hair is down to my back and I REFUSE to cut it!!!!!!! I try not
freak out, but often cry. I've noticed that new hair growth has already
started in the places I lost it, so I just hope and pray it grows fast. I
started taking biotin that I got at Walmart (you have to really look for it
as they don't keep them in order as they should) I take 2 capsules each day
and am praying that the new hair growth I feel will grow really fast to
catch up and praying that I don't lose ALL of it. Just try to be as
careful as possible and KNOW that it will grow back. On different posts
another person suggested hair clips, but DON'T use extensions as those only
do damage to the hair. Good luck and God bless!!!!
— crystalsno
September 9, 2007
MY DOCTOR TOLD ME TO TAKE 3 FLAXSEED TABLETS A DAY FOR HAIR LOSS. HOPE THIS
HELPS.
— Vicky Jo Dexter
September 9, 2007
Some temporary hair thinning may occur during periods of rapid weight loss.
This may begin several months after a gastric bypass, and may continue for
several months. If you develop hair thinning, your hair should re-grow when
the rapid phase of your weight loss stabilizes. You can help this process
by avoiding hair treatments and permanent, and also by maintaining your
protein intake. You can reduce hair loss by maintaining your protein
intake. Avoiding hair treatments and permanent during this period is
advised. Biotin and zinc supplements may also help.
— Caroline Garber
September 9, 2007
All the things mentioned are ok but it will not stop or slow the loss. This
is a metabolic change your body goes through from the rapid weight loss.
You don't need to spend a fortune on things to retard this, I tell all my
patients that this will slow down on its own, if you have a thick head of
hair you will be the only one who notices it. Do however avoid perms and
harsh chemicals for a year post op as this is bad for normal healthy hair
let alone ours. I freaked at first but it stopped and no one noticed but
me.
CINDY CARBAUGH
— carcar01
September 10, 2007
BIOTIN, BIOTIN....I have taken it since my surgery back in 03. Athough I
lost a lot of hair and did everything I was supposed too. It has begun to
thicken back up alittle. I will never have the horse tail I used too. But,
your air thins with age any way. My cusion had hair to her butt and lost
handfuls at a time. She has so many regrowths coming back she looks like
she stuck her finger in a light socket, so to try and blend it in until it
all gets one lenght, she cut it to her shoulders. I personally keep my
hair short, but I recommend if you have long hair you consider a short
style. . . at least until you stop loosing. Just my penny's worth!
— Penny (Brooks) Shaw
September 10, 2007
Hi! Biotin, PABA, and a multivitamin for the hair in addition to the
multivamin for the body you should also be taking are great for hairloss.
GNC has a multivitamin for the hair it is called "Nourish Hair".
It has a lot of the essentials. It's a big pill so break it up. The
combination of biotin, PABA, and nourish hair is great, but don't expect
overnight results. You may have to take it a month or two before you see
any changes. Good Luck!
— Isis
September 10, 2007
Don't worry too much--it's normal with any surgery. I got the dissolving
Biotin at a health food store. They are very good at those stores to show
you what to take. Also, to help your hair growth, make sure you're getting
all of your protein for each day. It's very important. My hair loss
stopped after a while, but I made sure that I took one Biotin a day and
made sure I had at least 60 grams of protein a day. But, as always, follow
your surgeon's advice on this.
— Joan N.
September 10, 2007
My original WLS was in 1994, but I lost hair 4 months after that, 4 months
after my TT in 1995, 4 months after revision (2000), 4 months after my mom
died, again 4 months after my dad died. I had a couple of other minor
(non-WLS) surgeries and didn't lose hair. But this year, I broke my arm,
had surgery in May to fix it and surprise, surprise, hair all over the
place. I consistently take 180g protein (supplement) daily, and hover over
my labs obsessively, so I am as nutritonally sound as is possible. I'm
guessing there is something in that anesthesia cocktail that not everyone
uses. The other surgeries I had caused me to hurl right in recovery,
whereas none of these did. So, perhaps they use something else to help
with nausea that expedites the hair loss? I'm just throwing that out
there, because thinking back over all the various surgeries (sinus, feet,
etc) the times I didn't lose hair, I was mighty darned sick in the first
few hours after. Rather lose the hair, I think. Comes back. And like
you, mine was curly and came back straight, or at least some of it is
straight. Why couldn't I have had straight hair in the 60's? Not NOWWWW!
— vitalady
September 10, 2007
I don't know if there's a way to stop it, but when I hit about 4 1/2 months
out I lost 1/3 of my hair, it was really scary, lying on my pillow every
morning and stuff. I tried Nioxin and to no avail, but then I tried Mane
& Tail (from Sally's) and made extra sure to take in all my protein and
now I am 8 1/2 months out and I have all these little hairs sticking up out
of my head all over--- they're about and inch long everywhere... so it's
growing back! Good luck, and if it gets too bad you can always wear a wig
or scarf or something. I also got my hair cut short and texturized to give
it the appearance of fullness.
Good luck and hang in there, it's all worth it!!! :)
— airbear762000
September 10, 2007
I ALSO HAVE VERY THICK HAIR AND IT WAS VERY SHORT WHEN I HAD SURGERY,
ALMOST 3 YRS AGO. I FELT LIKE A
CHEMO PATIENT. IT WAS ALL OVER THE BATHTUB WHEN I
SHOWERED AND ON MY PILLOW IN CLUMPS. I STILL HAD A
GOOD BIT OF HAIR, BUT I COULD TELL HOW THIN IT WAS
GETTING. THE HAIR FOLLICLE DIES OR WEAKENS AFTER THE
FIRST FEW MONTHS OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH PROTEIN AND
CERTAIN VITAMINS, NEW FOLLICLES FORM BUT IT TAKES A
LITTLE TIME. BE PATIENT AND IT WILL COME BACK. ENJOY
YOUR SUCCESS WITH WEIGHT LOSS. KH, CAPE MAY NJ
— WILDIRISH
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