Question:
Are there Pre-Op precautions you can take to prevent or slow hair loss?

I'm interested in hearing if anyone took protein supplements, biotan and used Nioxin up to surgery, and whether they still suffered from post-surgery hair loss. Thanks, Beth    — Beth S. (posted on December 22, 2002)

December 22, 2002
I had just started really losing my hair at about three to four months post op. I had heard claims that Real Meals would prevent hair loss so I tried it. About a week after I started taking it my hair stopped falling out. I am not sure if it is the protein or the biotin in it or what, but it worked for me.
   — Marie I.

December 22, 2002
Probably not. I have seen all kinds of posts about hair loss. There are people who took all the things that would supposedly prevent it, nioxin, zinc, biotin, lots of protein, etc., that still lost their hair. There are also people who didn't do any of those things and didn't lose any. I have also seen a couple of posts recently from people who lost after their WLS and then lost more after having panniculectomies, breast reduction/lifts, etc. There was even one from a person who lost a lot of hair after gall bladder removal. I didn't lose any when I had my gall bladder out, but lost LOTS about 4 months after my WLS. I think you either do or don't and there's not much you can do about it one way or another. I just had mine cut very, very short. When my hairdresser was cutting it, she did say that there's a lot of re-growth going on.
   — garw

December 22, 2002
My doctor told me not to waste my money. Hairloss is the body's reaction to the shock to its system. Mine started at three months and a called the doctor freaked out and he said the only remedy was TIME. By six months it began to slow down. I never got to a point where anyone but me noticed and now its back better than it was before. good luck! Open RNY 4/29/02 -122
   — stacey L.

December 22, 2002
the doctor is right, the hair loss is a reaction to the shock of surgery and all the drugs. hair grows 1/2 inch a month, it will take it 3 months or more befire you notice it growing back, shock like this does NOT kill the hair root, it will grow back. any good vitamins to help your blood be as healthy as possible will work, if its going to fall out it will, no amount of 'real meals' or any other product will stop it.
   — janetc00