Question:
Hair Loss & Lightweights
I'm looking for lightweights to tell me about their hair loss experiences - does the starting BMI make any difference? Thanks! 235 Open RNY 9-25-03 Wah-Hoo!!! — Deborah M. (posted on September 18, 2003)
September 18, 2003
I was 248 and 5'7" on the day on surgery. My hair was never great,
but it seems to me that I just see a lot in the bruh and sink, but I don't
look "bald". I got a shorter haircut to make it look fuller, but
no one has really mentioned anything to me, and I really don't dwell on it
so it can't be too bad. Good luck!!
— Fixnmyself
September 18, 2003
I started at 5'5"/237 and currently weigh 170, I had lap RNY on
5/6/03. For the past at least 6 weeks my hair has been coming out by the
wads. My hair has gotten very thin and I am finding my hair everywhere at
my house and at work. I have actually been considering cutting it shorter
until this hair loss stops.
— Dawn P.
September 18, 2003
I was a "lightweight" being 128 pounds overweight with a BMI of
43.2(I'm 5'7") My hairloss started at about 2 or 3 months out, It came
out by the handfull (stopped up my shower twice)but was NEVER noticed by
anyone but me. I did get a short, layered cut to make it look more fluffy
and it is growing back in nicely now. I tried the Hair&Nail Vits
before WLS but IMHO they didnt help much. Good luck. ~Sidney~ Open RNY
10-23-02 down 115+ and counting
— Siddy I.
September 18, 2003
I am 5'7" and started out at 243 with a BMI of 38.4. Around 4 months
out was when I started noticing it, just a little at first, with July
probably being the heaviest month. I still lose a little but I can tell
that I'm almost thru because it is significantly less than before. I have
long hair and it has thinned quite a bit but I don't think that anyone
else, other than my hairdresser, would probably notice. It was more of an
inconvenience to and although I'm glad I'm almost done losing hair, the
positive benefits of the surgery have far outweighed the unease over losing
hair. It'll grow back - but the weight won't!
— Judy R.
September 18, 2003
I started at 5'2" and 263. I lost an incredible amount of hair between
months 2 and 8. I had very thick hair to begin with and I lost at least
half, if not 3/4. My mother and husband noticed. However, I am now close to
3 years post op and my hair has recovered fairly well. It is thick again
(though not as thick as pre-op). I am a firm believer that there is nothing
you can do to prevent the loss. I was faithful with supplements and vites.
The only thing I did in order to lessen the loss, was to use Nioxin
shampoo. I don't think it made a difference, but I liked the way it left my
hair and it also made me feel that at least I was doing SOMETHING! Hair
loss happens to some and my surgeon believes it is caused from the trauma
of surgery. Our bodies just process that trauma differently. Good luck!
Shelley
— Shelley.
September 18, 2003
Hello! I started out 5'2" 235. Around month 3 I started noticing a LOT
of hair loss. After each shower the drain was covered in har. Also after
blow drying there was a lot of hair on the floor. I'm 5 months out now and
still loosing hair, but not as much as I had been. I don't think there is
much anyone can do about it and BMI probably doesn't have anything to do
with it. As other have said, the hairloss was not noticable to anyone but
me.
— Barbara C.
September 18, 2003
I thought hairloss was due to lack of protein and the anesthesia? I didn't
know it was due to BMI.
— mrsmyranow
September 18, 2003
Hair loss has absouletly nothing to do with what weight you started at.
Also it is not always from lack of protein. It can be from the anesthesia
and trauma of surgery. I started at 228 and am now seven months out.
hair is falling out like craze and has been for about three months. I have
had surgeries when I was thin and when I was fat. I always lose a good
amount of hair. So you see, it isn't even directly connected with wls.
For those of us that lose it from the anesthesia, any type of surgery will
do it. Thank God it comes back. my hair is just now coming in the spots I
lost last year from another serious surgery and it is GRAY.
— Delores S.
September 18, 2003
I read an article the other day that said hair loss can be caused by
malnutrition. That makes perfect sense to me with not being able to get
all of our nutrients early on.
— joeandteri
September 18, 2003
I started out at 248 and right after surgery my hair started to fall out.
Luckily, I had a LOT of hair so when mine fell out, it just looked like I
had a normal head of hair. The hair loss continued for probably 7 months
and then slowed and stopped by a year out. By that time, I had been at my
goal weight for 3 months so I think that made the difference.
— Patty H.
September 19, 2003
I am pre-op but getting closer and I remember reading about Biotin, a
vitamin. I even bought a bottle. I read that it is supposed to help the
hair loss. Good luck!
— corkee
September 25, 2003
Hey all!! Hairdresser of 20 years here! Please check out a product called
Nioxin. It will greatly reduce the amount of fall out caused by
surgery...The fall out is caused by the trauma of surger, anesthesia, and
of course, the rapid weight loss. This surgery is initally hard on the
body, and anything that effects the body ie..stress, weightloss, or even
meds..effects your hair,skin and nails.
Nioxin is a great product!! All natural. Basically cleans out that follicle
and keeps it open, creating a favorable envirment for hairgrowth.
This product is so safe a nursing mother could use it!!
You can find this product at the best price at Trade Secret stores in most
malls. Ask for a 10% discount, say you were advised to try the product by a
supervisor in Jacksonville.
Well, good luck and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact
me....Cheryl McQuiston
— Cheryl M.
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