Question:
How do I prevent hairloss?

I am just 4 weeks post op, but, I am really worried about losing my hair later on like so many others do. Are there any type of supplement I can start taking now to prevent losing my hair before it starts? I am already taking the Bugs Bunny chewables 2 per day. I just don't feel like they are really enough. Any suggestions?    — Stacie B. (posted on July 28, 2003)

July 28, 2003
That is a good question...I would like the answer to it also. I haven't had surgery yet but that has been a main worry of mine. It seems like there must be something we can take that will help prevent it.
   — Sabrina Plunkett

July 28, 2003
Me three!! I know it is so vain but it is one of the simple pleasures in life..LOL..a great head of hair. I would hate to see my hair start to fall out. I am having surgery soon also and want to be prepared and take as many preventative measures as I possibly can...
   — SassySamara

July 28, 2003
Although it doesn't prevent hair loss completely, Nioxin shampoo really does seem to work. I stopped using it for a few weeks and really noticed a difference.
   — PEARL B.

July 28, 2003
I had hoped Biotin would help, but I spoke a dermatologist about it and she said it only would help th enails, not the hair. She said it is from the stress of surgery, and nothing is known to help it. Some say stick with protein, but the nutritionist said there is just no proof of this, but since you're taking in lots of protein anyway as a postop, keep that up.
   — bethybb

July 28, 2003
Hi, I havent had the surgery yet. But in 9 days I will be having it HORRAY. But my surgeon recommends to start taking Zinc vitamin, before surgery and after the surgery. So I hope it works. Well acually everyone at our support meetings at least 75 that already had the surgery, I have never heard any of them complain of hair loss, so maybe the Zinc really works. Well Good Luck and give it a try.
   — blainejrjeni

July 28, 2003
Just a note about the Unjury site...order at your own risk over the internet. I was just on their site and their order page is NOT a secure site. Meaning that anyone with a wanting and basic knowhow can get your credit card info... Shop wisely, and only use secure sites when ordering on line. I am sure you can print it off and mail it in to the company....if you want. I found their product to be a bit pricy.
   — Pookie B.

July 28, 2003
I think that if you don't lose your hair you are just plain lucky. I do all of the previously mentioned things and at 6.5 months post op I have been losing my hair for at least 3 months. I take prenatal vitamins and get 100 grams of protein a day. The medical community jury is still out with a dercision on why we actually lose hair. I am now believing that it is just a result of the trauma of surgery. Good luck.
   — Carol S.

July 28, 2003
I did everything I had ever heard of to prevent hair loss, including all suggestions from this board, and still lost lots of hair. I don't think it's the trauma of surgery alone, as I had a much more traumatic surgery 18 months post-op (lower body lift and breat lift) with 8 hours of anesthesia, and didn't lose much hair at all. I lost tons w/ the RNY. So, the moral is, do what you can, but there's no guarantee.
   — mom2jtx3

July 28, 2003
I believe some people lose hair and others just don't and it doesn't matter what type of products you use to try to avoid hairloss. I used to have a thick mane of hair. Lost so much I could see my scalp in places I never could before. My hair is growing back but I think I was blessed with thick hair the first 36 yrs of my life so I can handle thinner hair for the next 36 yrs lol. Good Luck!
   — Jodi D.

July 28, 2003
I had thin hair to begin with, so I was particulalry motivated to do whatever I could to prevent, or at least minimize, hair loss. So, I started taking zinc, biotin, and a hair & nails vitamin formula about a month before surgery, and ever since (4 months out). I even added B complex, E and C twice a day at the urging of a beautitian. I average 80 grams of protein a day. With all this effort, I started losing my hair at two and half months out, even earlier than most. It's still coming out. I'm getting it cut Halle Berry short on Thursday in an attempt to minimize the appearance of thinness. I don't believe there's anything you can do to prevent it, as they don't know why we lose it to begin with. But, as I told my surgeon a couple of weeks ago, I'd still rather be bald than obese! (He assured me it wouldn't come to that, and that it will grow back.) I suppose it doesn't hurt to take extra vitamins, and you need the protein anyway, but I wouldn't count on it helping.
   — Vespa R.

July 29, 2003
I know everyone has a different opinion as to what causes the hairloss. I believe that it is the lack of protein. I always took a Real Meals shake a day for 60 grams of protein and biotin and never had any hairloss. I am now 14 months post op so I am pretty much out of the woods for it now. My profile has more details.
   — Linda A.

July 29, 2003
you can not prevent hair loss. it is not from "not taking" vitamens or not getting enough protein. it is the shock to your system and your body's reaction to the rapid wieght loss, the drugs and anithetics. you can take biotin and zinc, i have heard they help but in truth the hair loss is just part of the process it starts about 4 months post op normally. the hair will grow back but it takes it about 3 months before the new hairs are out of the scalp far enough to notice and even longer until they seem to thicken. keep in mind the adverage person's hair grows only 1//2 inch a month. malnutrition can cause hair loss along with finger and toe nails falling off and oragan failure, i doubt many wls pateints have this, they would be practilly bedridden if they were. besides that is why we have blood work post op to make sure our levels are okay!
   — janetc00

July 29, 2003
I have heard in the past that hair loss can be related to the type of anesthesia used. I had my lap RNY 9 months ago, and I haven't lost any appreciable amount of hair (plus I color my hair regularly). My husband had his surgery about 3 1/2 months ago, and he seems to have lost some hair, but it looks like it is starting to grow back! We both make an effort to try to get in 75 -100 grams of protein a day, minimum, so maybe that helps, but neither of us has taken any special supplements to try and prevent hair loss.
   — koogy

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