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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