Question:
How do some of you deal with the emotional part of losing hair?
i have surg scheduled dec 6. I keep reading about a lot of you losing LOTS of hair. Since i was a kid my hair has been really important to me. Every hair in its place person bec prob compesating for the weight. How do you deal with the emotional part and how about your spouse???? — Jackiis (posted on November 9, 2001)
November 9, 2001
You know, I think you're onto something. My parents were fiercely PROUD of
my hair. In turn, I was horrified by the color, the curliness--everything
about it. However, as I got older, I decided that red wasn't so bad. I
mean, it matched the rest of my complexion, so maybe I could get used to
it. As long as I had enough to make it worthwhile. It got thin after my
babies, then stabilized, then as my obesity cause more & more surgeries
(various failures), I lost more each time. Of course, it would stabilize,
but it never was to be as it was before babies. All that said, all you can
do to prepare is get plenty of protein pre-op, perhaps start a Hair, Skin
Nails preparation now, or biotin, whatever. Zinc helps with protein uptake.
Then when the anesthesia does the inevitable, at least your new growth is
ready to roll. The side effect being that you will also heal better with
all your systems beefed up, too. When I had my revision, I knew to beef
up, and was on 180g or more of protein supps a day for 4 months before the
revision (it wasn't sposta take 4 months to get approval), and stayed at
that level for 8 weeks after (but I liked it so still do it often), and I
STILL Lost hair. But it was not as much as the first time, nor did it last
as long.
— vitalady
November 9, 2001
I can certainly understand your fear. I had it too. Unfortunately I was not
one of the lucky ones that didn't lose any hair, and my hair has always
been thin and fine to begin with. About 2-3 months post op it started
falling out all the time. All over my clothes, in the shower, in my brush.
I freaked out one day while brushing my hair after I got out of the shower.
It was coming out fiercely. I did something spontaneous and went and had it
CHOPPED off! I tell you, it was the best thing I could have done. It made
it look fuller and more healthy too. It finally stopped falling out about a
month ago, and I have lots of new growth coming in. I just keep it trimmed
regularly for now. It is a small price to pay for losing 131 lbs, and
remember it is only hair. If it falls out it will grow back. Just keep it
as healthy as possible!
— Kim B.
November 9, 2001
Hi, I definately relate to the emotional aspect of losing the hair. All my
life I have had thick, curly, long hair. Thin or fat, people would always
make a big deal about my hair, saying things like "I would have to pay
$100.00 to have hair like that" or "don't ever cut that hair
short" etc. etc.I really didn't think my hair would fall out after the
surgery because I have always had such an excess. Boy was I wrong! I
started losing a ton at around the three month mark. I panicked and cried,
and although I realized that it was a price I had to pay for getting my
health back, I was still devastated! Then I just got myself ready for the
war on hair loss. I researched a bit and found out that Zinc, Biotin, and
Nioxin shampoo and conditioner in combination with one another was supposed
to help. Well, it really did, the loss stopped after a month of starting to
take them. I only wish I had started before the surgery. I would suggest
you consider doing that. I guess I dealt with the emotional end of this by
fighting back, convincing myself that I didn't have to wait it out. I know
to some this is not a major issue, but again, I understand because my hair
has always been my "mask" and I have always counted on it to
somehow compensate for my insecurities. I am over that now that I have lost
87 pounds, but it is still nice to know that I have won the fight for my
hair. By the way, I have lots of new growth now and you can hardly tell
where the bare spots were. Best of luck on your journey, and a life of good
health!
— Vicki K.
November 9, 2001
I think a lot of obese people are very attached to their hair. It's often
one of the few physical attributes they can feel proud of, along with
"good skin." I took a pragmatic approach - there was only so
much I could do about it, and I believed it would all grow back eventually.
I lost quite a bit, and would occasionally agonize about it. My husband
swore he could not tell the difference - you gotta love that man! I would
say that mine is still not quite as thick as it was pre-op, but it's fairly
close (a bit less hair is actually a good thing for me, it was unmanageable
before). In terms of what you can or can't do, I firmly believe it is
based on each individual's metabolism. My husband and I follow idential
regimens; I lost a ton of hair, he hasn't lost any (but then again, he had
less to start with, so I'm happy for him!) -Kate-
— kateseidel
November 10, 2001
I've always had crummy thin hair and couldn't really spare much. It did
kind of freak me out to find hair everywhere. I bought this little fake
pony-tail from 'Paula Young Wig catalog'..It was only about $20. and I just
pull my thin hair back in a ponytail and put the fake one on top. It looks
really cute and nobody notices. My hair had stopped falling out and my hair
dresser sees alot of new growth.
— Lesley K.
November 11, 2001
*lol* My boyfriend says my hairloss isn't that bad, that I just like to
complain a lot :)
— jammie B.
December 19, 2001
I lost hair during one of those 'liquid' diets. I found it horrible and it
caused me a great deal of stress. The hair actually breaks off. It does
grow back. This time around I am preparing myself ahead of time. I'm
growing my hair in now and enjoying it shoulder length. I have been told
to eat your 60g of Protein a day and hair loss should be minimal. If/when
I begin to lose hair, I plan on getting it cut shorter and more often to
minimize the visual effect. Also, since I KNOW it will grow back, I don't
plan on worrying about it - just enjoy the weight loss and my new life!
— Marianne K.
December 19, 2001
Hi, Jaqueline! I am 18 weeks post and have been losing hair by the handful
for about 6 weeks. It has slowed some, but not much. I was lucky to have
had a LOT of hair to begin with, so no one but me and my hairdresser (and
mom, who also used to do hair) has noticed. They all think I got it cut
different b/c it's not so full. I must admit, I used to LOVE my hair, and
so did everyone else. I'd always get the comments like "I'd kill to
have your hair" and I loved it. I felt like my hair was my best
asset, and I still do. I went from barely being able to fit all my hair in
one of those king size ponytail holders to buying the little tiny ones
meant for little girls and having them fit nicely. There is an upside,
though. My hair is long and red and I have not cut it yet. It looks just
fine long as long as I get regular trims. And where it once took me 20-30
minutes to blow dry my hair before I curled it, it now only takes 5 - 10
minutes. Plus, my hair isn't as heavy and hot as it was before, so I
actually like how it handles better NOW than before! I just want the fall
out to stop! :)
— Jenper
December 19, 2001
I'm 4 mos post-op and about 3 weeks ago, I began to notice that I was
losing hair. Every morning, it seems my brush is full again. I got a
short haircut and gel it into a "Meg Ryan unmade bed look"
hairstyle and am resigned to living with it. I am so happy about being -65
lbs and feeling good, sleeping well, and all the other benefits, that I
can't complain. I'd have WLS all over again, even if it meant I would go
bald for a time. My health is all that matters... to hell with vanity.
— Nancy G.
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