Question:
I know I may be crazy, but I have a question about losing hair...
I am very nervous, along with the surgery itself, about losing hair during post-op months. I have very thin and short hair to begin with, what happens if I lose all of it? I don't want to sound selfish, but I don't have any hair to spare!! :) Has anyone else been in my situation?? I'd love to hear about it!! Thanks so much!! — Heather H. (posted on March 17, 2002)
March 17, 2002
Heather, unfortunately you will probably lose a lot of hair. But the good
news is that it does grow back. It will not be permanent. If your hair is
noticeably thinning to the point of revealing your scalp, you may want to
wear a wig for several months until your hair grows back. <p>I'm 6
months out and still losing my hair. I started losing it at about 3 months
out. I was fortunate to have very thick hair when this all started, so it
is not noticeable to other people--only to me.<p>You will help your
hair by eating lots of protein, taking your vitamins and concentrate on
getting extra Biotin and Zinc. <P>And finally, something to think
about--do you want to remain obese to save your hair or are you willing to
sacrifice it for a short while to get back to a healthy weight? I wish you
the very best in your WLS journey. God bless.
— artistmama
March 17, 2002
heather, i'm glad you asked that question because i am in the exact same
boat as you. my scalp already is visable and i hate it. unfortunately it's
inherited to have thin hair. i'm only 37 and i can't afford to lose it
either. guess i'll look into a wig when i have surgery. it would be well
worth it and it's only temporary...
— candymom64
March 17, 2002
Check out Nature's Bounty "Vitamins for the Hair." I took this
as my fine, thin hair began falling out, and it stopped the hair loss in
its tracks. One year post-op, my hair is thicker and healthier than it has
ever been.
— Terissa R.
March 17, 2002
I am 4 1/2 months post op. I have been losing hair since month 2. I am also
one of those people who had very thin hair to start off. The top of my head
is extremely thin now and I dread the wind like any man with a comb over
would understand. I have been having enough protein, zinc, biotin, etc. and
none of it is helping right now. Do I regret my surgery? NO WAY!!!!!!!!
I am wearing clothes that haven't fit in six years. I can cover the
baldness with a wig or a hat, but I was never able to cover my huge size
prior to the surgery. I am confident that the hair will grow back - right
around the time that I am wearing shorts for the first time in twenty
years!
— Julie S.
March 17, 2002
My hair started falling out by the handfulls in month 3. It has now
stopped at month 6. It was not as noticable as all the fat I was carrying
around! ha! My hairdresser said most people lose hair after surgery, not
to worry...it will grow back. I am seeing new hair now, thicker than ever.
Good luck!
— Helena R.
March 18, 2002
If it is any consolation I think you lose a PERCENTAGE of your hair. In
other words, the less you have to lose, the less you will lose. I know I
lost about 1/3 of my hair. It was a LOT but I had lots. Almost everyone I
have talked to said they lost some percentage between 1/3 and 1/2. Nobody
seems to have gone completely bald yet! LOL
— ctyst
March 19, 2002
I also started with short hair, thin and fine. I have lost hair with every
surgery I have had (WLS was number 6), but have lost the most with this
one. I started at 3 months to the day, and is slowing down now at 5
months. It has thinned enough to where you can see scalp THROUGH the hair
if you look from different angles. Or if I don't fix it just right, there
will be a 'bald spot'. But people cannot tell which makes me feel better.
I would still do it all over again, and once a year for the rest of my life
if that is what it took to get the results that I am getting. I also am
seeing LOTS of new growth. Look on the bright side. When your hair thins,
you can use less shampoo, conditioner, mousse, hairspray. Takes less time
to blow-dry. And I actually have MORE volume in my hair because it is not
weighed down by more hair. Think positively and it will go much smoother.
Enjoy your journey!!
— Cheri M.
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