Question:
Has anyone ever gone bald?

I knew that hair loss was a "side effect" of wls. But lately I have been losing enough to make small wigs for my daughters barbies, I am just over 3 months post-op and doing great with the weight loss. I had Lap RYN, but I was wondering has anyone ever gone bald? I have been able to notice my scalp more and more each day! Has anyone ever gotten a real short hair cut, just to make it not feel like you are losing as much? Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated! Thanks ...... AnnMarie Ward [email protected]    — AnnMarie W. (posted on August 3, 2000)

August 3, 2000
AnnMarie, just as Ray says hair loss is very common. If you check our database, you will find many reasons, ranging from anesthesia to decreased protein to rapid significant weight loss. Try increasing your protein, take biotin and zinc supplements and yes, a short haircut does help relieve the stress on the hair you have. My drain was covered from month 3 to month 7 post op. At month 8 it has decreased quite a bit. It does indeed grow back. Many of us have said we would rather be bald and skinny than fat with a thick head of hair. Good luck with your journey, Sandy
   — Sandy 2.

August 3, 2000
AnnMarie, I had the same question when I was 3 mo. post-op!! I thought for sure I was going bald. Fortunatly, I am almost 7 mo. post op and still have hair. Just remember, as you are losing hair, new hair is growing. At 3 mo. post op, I started using the Nioxin shampoo system. {Purchased at select hair salons.} It helped a lot. Now I have hair coming in where I did'nt even have hair before! Hair loss is very common, but it is frightening. It is only temporary. I still lose a little, but nothing compared to the 3rd, 4th and 5th months. Good Luck!
   — Dani J.

August 3, 2000
Thank goodness I had a lot of hair to begin with.. I had pretty steady hair loss starting 3rd month to about 6th month then I got my hair cut that helped the most... The hair loss has now slowed to a normal hair shed rate.. My surgeon recommended ZBEC.. although I never took it.. I did use GNC UltraHair..I have no idea if it helped or not.. I'm not bald so who knows..
   — Victoria B.

August 3, 2000
I am now 9 months post Lap proximal RNY and I started my hair loss at 4 months. It has finally stopped. It was very scary for a time. I called my clinic and they told me that not one of their patients had gone bald (they did 400 of these surgeries last year) and I wouldn't be the first. I thought for a while I was going to prove them wrong, but that didn't happen. I did get a very short haircut and that helped visually and psychologically.
   — Jilda H.

August 3, 2000
AnnMarie, I also had surgery about 3 months ago and I am losing hair in amazing handfuls. I have been reading everything I can on here about how to stop this hair loss. When I blow dry my hair, my feet are covered with the lost hair and my brush is full. When I shower, I pull out handfuls of it. It is a little scary, I'll admit. My hair is nearly to my waist and so thin now that I only pull it up in a weak, straggly little pathetic ponytail and hope no more falls out. I've made the decision to cut it shoulder length in hopes that will make it look better!
   — Beth B.

August 3, 2000
The first thing you need to do is talk to your Doctor , the second thing you need to do is see a hairdresser . I can tell you from a hairdresser point of view there are several things you can do but without actually seeing your hair they would all be generic. One of the biggest mistakes women make is to keep there hair long, Even if the hair is normally thin , it still has weight , and that weight puts added stress on the hair closest to the scalp also pulling the hair up with rubber bands weather coated or uncoated and no matter how loose they think it is /is a big mistake. Spend the money on yourself ,you are worth it , see a good hairdresser , and purchase professional products geared to your individual (as recommended by the cosmetologist) hair needs. over the counter just isn't the same.
   — Rose A.