Question:
Follow up to hair loss question.

To follow up the question that was just asked about losing enough hair to require a wig, I have an additional question. This in one of my main concerns at 1 month pre-op. The reason being, baldness runs on both sides of my family, my brother went completely bald at 25, as did my father and my mother is extremely thin. I started losing hair about a year ago and am still losing it. It is extrememly thin on top. Not enough that I'm looking to a wig yet, but if it is this thin now, will the probable hair loss make it look so bad that I will need a wig or other alternative (a hairdresser friend suggested an integration), but I really don't want to have to go that route. Since I am losing hair pre-op, will the hair that I lose (if I lose any) post-op return since my hair is "compromised" before surgery? I really don't have any extra to spare at the moment.    — Denise B. (posted on July 29, 2003)

July 29, 2003
I am also pre-op so I am not experienced in hair loss from the surgery but I have a suggestion for you. I was completely bald about a 1 1/2 years ago due to a stress disorder. I wore wigs until my hair grew in enough to look like G.I. Jane then I let it show. I use the Nioxin brand of hair care products along with taking a multivitamin and a vitamin specific to obtaining healthy hair and nails (bought that one at Wal-Mart). I also take a gelatin capsule which I heard helps with the folicle/root to help it get plump and difficult to loosen from the scalp. In addition to all that I use Nioxin's folicle booster once a day. I tried using it twice a day thinking more was better but it stimulated the scalp and hair shafts so much that I felt like I had creepy crawlies on my scalp, gross. I wouldn't recommend using it more than once a day, also because it is expensive but well worth it(you should be able to buy it through a beauty supply store in your area). I now have hair long enough to wear ponytails and wear it up in an updo. This is just a suggestion to help you both pre and post op. Good luck and God Bless.
   — tntwildlife77

July 29, 2003
I too, have hereditary hair thinning from my mother. A couple of years ago, I started using minoxidil to control that. It works well for me. I didn't get a lot of new hair growing in, but I was losing far less of it. I still use the minoxidil for the hereditary part of my hair loss, but am losing quite a bit of hair to the surgery. The minoxidil does nothing to stop that. I haven't yet lost enough to worry about a wig, though I am getting a very short, very layered cut to camoflauge the thinning. Fortunately, the hair loss to surgery grows back; the ones lost to heredity don't. You might try the minoxidil (sold as Rogaine or under store brands--the store brands are much cheaper--in the hair care section) to control the hereditary loss, but you'll still have to deal with the loss due to surgery.
   — Vespa R.

July 29, 2003
for the last 2 years i was experiencing alot of hair loss and breakage. My hair was very long. before i had the sugery i had it all cut off expecting to loose so much more. when i went to get my hair cut off i asked the beautician what i could do to stop the hair loss and start new growth. Her answere was so simple. Vitamin D pills i take one every morning. I started before the surgery and keep taking them everyday. How could something so simple have taken me so long to find out about. It really works and my hair loss has almost completely stopped. Go to wal-mart and get ya a cheap bottle they are small pills and easy to take after surgery. Hope this will help carolyn
   — carolyn W.