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.