Question:
Hair loss - HELP!!!

I am 3 months RNY and have lost a total of 60 pounds. Just today I wake up and my hair is falling out in hunks. I am so upset and don't no what to do. I finally look and feel great about myself and now this issue. What can be done to slow it down or am I doing something wrong. Any help is deeply appreciated. Thanks.    — amanda1972 (posted on August 17, 2010)


August 17, 2010
I had lap band 3 years ago and lost hair for over a year. I had to cut my long locks and I sported a short style for a while. I am having a revision from lap band to Rny next month and out of all the complication I could have after surgery...the one I'm most concerned with is losing hair again. Out of all the research I did the only thing I came up with is...protein protein protein and once the hairloss starts there not much you can do but let it run it's course. I was like you..very upset and didnt know what to do. I was to the point of crying everytime I took a shower. So last month I started on vitimins and biotin and protein shakes in hopes to preserve my hair this time around. Good luck to you and the more you stress about it the more ur putting stress on ur body...hair also falls out due to stress...it will stop falling out...promise!!! take care
   — SWESTMOR1

August 17, 2010
Hi Amanda. I am 7 months post op and I started losing my hair around 3 or 4 months. The hair loss is really starting to slow down now. It never came out in hunks but when I washed it and brushed it alot came out. I take 1000mg. of biotine everyday. It seems to help. I also heard zinc is good to take too along with the biotine. I am not a big protein drinker neither. I also got my haircut short.I hope this helps. Your hair will grow back in.
   — cuppaloopy

August 17, 2010
Hi Amanda, when I was 4 or 5 months out my hair started falling in handfuls too my doctor told me that my hair was falling out due to the shock to the body after surgery and not to worry it will not all fall out. Dr started me on biotin 5000mcg (which you can get at walmart in the vitamin section)and spironolactone 100mg dr. needs to write a prescription for that. I'm now 8 months out and my hair is growing back now ( so happy!) continue to increase your protein intake that will really help too. good luck on your WLS journey :)
   — Mary D.

August 17, 2010
Shandra said it all, you must have protein! I lost 120 lbs, and had minimal hair loss. I also take Biotin.
   — FSUMom

August 17, 2010
hi there, my doc explained it this way he said my hair would get thinner and thinner by about three to four months out that is when u will loose the mostof your wheight, this stops at about eight months, which means u should be at your macks weight loss once u stop losing weight ur hair will start to grow back....I hope mine comes with some curls lol,take care and don't worry it will come back eventually this is just one of the side affects of the surgery I knew this going in, so I keep my hair short and were a nice hat in the winter months...lol take care DEB
   — pumpkin57

August 17, 2010
I am four months out and have lost 80 pounds and no hair loss. I take my liquid vitamins, selenium, Vit D, calcium and Flax Seed Oil capsule daily. I love my vitamins and will get them for anyone who wants at my cost.
   — tfqh99

August 17, 2010
Amanda, this is how it was explained to me. Your body needs protein and distributes it to where it's needed. Your heart, lungs, pancreas, etc need protein and are more necessary to life than your hair. That puts hair on the bottom of the list for protein, hence, the hair loss. It will stop once you get more protein. My hair is back to its state it was in before the loss. A friend's hair did come back curly!
   — Muggs

August 17, 2010
take biotin I take 1200 mcg a day!
   — marymazilla

August 17, 2010
hair loss seems to happen around the 50-60 lb loss area. Increase your protein levels and i took biotin 5000 every other day. It seemed to help and slowed after i did these. your hair has already begun to grow back in. You will see that in a few days. Best of luck! hugs,Kim
   — gpcmist

August 17, 2010
My hair also fell out in hunks...I would literally cry in the shower. However, I know I DID NOT get in enough protien. All I can say is try try try for the protien. I also take biotin and haven't noticed a difference except in facial hair of course! LOL I did notice my eyelashes got a lil longer too. I am a lil over a year out 160 lbs gone but haven't really noticed my hair growing back yet. It has slowed on falling out tho it is normal hair loss now. I also had to cut my hair short.. good luck and protien, protien, protien!!
   — callen3640

August 18, 2010
At about 3 months after I had RNY I had a tone of hair loss too. it's been 3 years and it's just coming back. I increased my protein intake, took that vitamin that helps with your hair and nails, can't remember hte name right now, and a friend gave me some expensice shampoo, conditioner that is suppose to help with hair loss. I think the vitamin and the increase of protein is what helped me lose less hair.
   — susiq

August 18, 2010
you can't fool the hair ! you are not getting enough protein. women like to say they get enough nbut when the hair goes it's a dead giveaway. get mone protein in and you will sto[p loseing hair. good luck hank
   — hanksguns

August 18, 2010
I had rny a year ago, my girlfriend had hers the yr before me, she lost a ton of hair, even wore hats for awhile, so i checked it out, nutritionist told me everyone loses hair but you can minimize it by taking the biotin. worked for me!!!!! biotin 1000mcg 3 a day,
   — MarthaJ0110

August 18, 2010
I also lost alot of hair. Lots of protein, make sure you take your vitamins, double your biotin and make sure you don't take all your vitamins at the same time. I take one does in the morning and another in the afternoon since your body will only absorb so much at the same time. As other have said I cut it from down to my waste to chin length. A year late now it is back down to the middle of my back and it grew back thicker than ever. Just remember it is only temporary and very worth it. Don't forget that there are hair pieces available that are natural hair and not that expensive no matter what type or color of hair you have. I played with some fun styles and decided to make it fun.
   — phyllismmay

August 19, 2010
I lost 85% of my hair. I learned to wear a scarf and when doing water exercise a swimmers cap. Don't pull are put your hair in a bind. It will come back. Mine come back wavey and a change of color. Use a strainer in the shower. Keep protein up and Biotin helps some. By cutting your hair short it don't pull on your hair. And that helped me.
   — Icututo

August 19, 2010
I had the same problem. I lost over half of my hair. My doctor, nutritionist and google searches all say that your body needs biotin, zinc and silica. It takes about a month to really work. I take it everyday and now I am back to normal only loosing a few strands here and there. This is such a common problem with people, I do not understand why they the doctors and nutritionists do not tell you to start on this right away. I was literally in tears every time I took a shower I would have handfuls of hair in my hands. Puritans Pride website sells great stuff at very affordable prices. If you need any help finding the best one you can email me at [email protected] and I can send you the link. Also, even though I hated it, they tell you to shampoo as little as possible as you will loose more hair. Also, if your hair is long, it is sad to say but you really need to cut it as the extra weight will make it fall out more, its the same thing about washing your hair the excess weight of the water. It will get better, good luck and like I said if you need help finding the best one, I will be more than happy to help you.
   — dowens67

August 22, 2010
I'm 5 months out and started losing tons of hair everyday. I'm hoping it goes away soon. I've been taking 3000 biotin and it is great. HOWEVER, be aware that you not only grow hair on your head but also everywhere else. i now have facial hair all over. YIKES
   — cocopierre

August 25, 2010
It will grow back Thank God! What I have been taking is Biotin get it at walmart and my nails and hair is growing like crazy.
   — kaybusk




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