Question:
Two Surgeries in One Year: Will I Go Bald?

Hi all, At six months out (today!) I am experiencing a fairly substantial hair loss. My hair was pretty thick to begin with but now it is quite thin and I can't do a thing with it. I've cut it from waist length to above the shoulder length and it's just impossible. I'm going to have plastic surgery in August. My doctors guidelines tell me that hair loss is possible at 4-8 months. Am I going to go bald??????? Has anyone else had two surgeries in one year? How has this affected your hair loss???????    — susanje (posted on July 7, 2003)

July 7, 2003
I had 3 surgeries in a little over a year's time, and it seems like after the last one, I started losing handfulls of hair; very distressing to me, since mine is fine and thin to begin with. I tried Nioxin, which is supposed to be for thinning hair, and it really didn't help. Then, I got a sample of Pantene in the mail, and I have no idea whether it was coincidence or not, but I noticed after I started using that my hair loss substantially slowed. If you are 6 months out now, your hair loss should slow very soon. I've never seen anyone on here who has gone bald. They've gotten pretty thin, but it has always grown back. I should also note that after the 3rd surgery, when my hair grew back, it is now curly! Used to be stick straight and I couldn't get it to hold a curl. Now it's naturally curly. Wonder how it will come back after THIS surgery????Good luck!
   — Moysa B.

July 7, 2003
I had my RNY in 11/01, a tt and liposuction in 8/02, and cataract surgery - one in 11/02 and the other in 12/02. My hair started growing back about 7 to 8 months post-op from the RNY. I didn't notice any additional hair loss after the last 3 surgeries and I just had another one done a week ago and still haven't noticed any differences.
   — Patty H.

July 7, 2003
I had my RNY 11/29/01 and TT and hernia repair 2/4/03, just over a year apart. I have not gone bald. I am losing hair right now but not terribly bad. If you eat your protein your hair will grow back.
   — Patty_Butler

July 7, 2003
Hi - I had a c-section in Nov 2002 and my open RNY in Mar 2003. I have been losing hair, but attribute it mostly to hair loss after pregnancy. The protein supplement and vitamins seem to help slow the loss considerably. I lost more hair after my first child than after these 2 surgeries. Good Luck!
   — teresa M.

July 7, 2003
I just don't get it. I had 4 surgeries over the past 13 years before my RNY this past Feb.. I was under the impression that the hair loss was attributed to hormonal and vitamin levels changing, not anesthesia. The RNY surgery was the only one where my hair was affected, showing hair around the sink in the bathroom, and in my brush. My other surgeries were D and C's and ovary removals where I immediately went on HRT to compensate. I have thin, fine hair and cut it to the length of the bottom of my neck, layered, from being shoulder length. I'm lucky, so far it isn't too noticable.
   — Fixnmyself

July 8, 2003
Well, I had 12 sugeries in 1 month, due to necrotizing pancreatitis (see my profile). About 7 months later, I did nearly lose all of my hair... due to so much stress on my system. But my best friend (a stylist) had me start taking B12 and Zinc right away when I left the hospital. I have always had thin, baby fine hair. It grew back GREAT! It was stronger and thicker than ever. After it fell out I wore lots of cute hats for a while. She cut what I had left very short (kind of Susan Powter-short) and we colored it (very carefully) very light - to minimize the contrast between my scalp and my hair. When your scalp shows through it just makes it worse. That was 1 1/2 years since my WLS. After that (and a hernia repair and a gallbladder removal - all three of these were within 1 year) I have had NO hair loss. That is a lot of stress on the body.... so that I came out of it with no hair loss is lucky.... but I attribute that to all the vitamins I already had coarsing through my blood ;) Good luck to you- And go hat shopping! I got a lot of compliments on my hat collection ;)
   — kultgirl

July 8, 2003
I've had 14 surgeries in my life, so far. Unfortunatly more to come. In 1993 I had three surgeries, two of which were extremely wicked ones. I almost died in the one. No hair loss then or ever for any surgeries. Perhaps our genetics play a part (as does nutrician of course) on whether we lose hair.
   — Danmark

July 8, 2003
I can't speak from experience but I called my sister who is a physician and a friend that is a nutritionist. Both of them said it is due to a couple things. Any surgical procedure stresses the body - throws your hormones and metabolism into an uproar. And with this type of surgery, the loss of nutrients, vitamin, minerals and lack of adequate protein intake really cause the hair loss. It can be prevented with protein, protein, protein and some simple supplementation. Hope this helps - take care and good luck!
   — Deborah F.

July 8, 2003
I had 2 surgeries last year. My original RNY was done in May and then I had another surgery in July to correct a problem with the first surgery. I lost a lot of hair in September, but then it stopped. It has all grown back in now. I have always had rather thin hair and have worn it fairly short for years. I had it cut REALLY short to hide the loss and I love the new style. No more perms for me. This is really a wash and wear cut and I love it.
   — garw

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