Question:
Has anyone had severe hair loss and for how long?

I had major complications with my wls,but have done real good in the last 2 months.i am now having to wear a wig due to hair loss.it's still coming out after my surgery in July.Dr. doesn't seem to be concerned.Anyone else with this kind of hair loss.    — Linda M. (posted on November 1, 2001)

November 1, 2001
If you will look at my before PICS I had very long and thick hair... Now I have very short pixie cut and although never bald it has thinned... After my WLS surgery I had a great deal of fall out between 3rd and 5th month post-op.. most started growing back in 7th month... Then I had my first plastic surgery and lost another hand full then after my last plastic surgery I lost another batch.. which left me no choice but to cut it all off and just start all over ... I now have new growth and very pleased with that :) although losing my hair was a trade off for losing all that weight.. I'd do it again in a heart beat...
   — Victoria B.

November 1, 2001
I also experienced alot of hair loss starting at month 3. It was very upsetting as I always have had very long, thick, curly hair which has kind of been my mask for many years. When it started to fall out by the handful I flipped! I did alot of research and started to take Biotin pills, which I found at GNC, and also started to take Zinc. I take those daily, as well as use Nioxin shampoo and conditioner (which you can find at a beauty supply store or some hair salons). Well, after a month, the hair loss slowed tremendously and I have lots of new little hairs growing back. Where you could see straight through to my scalp, now it is MUCH BETTER!I am now 5 months post op and I feel I have beaten this hair loss thing! I would definately recommend taking the Biotin and the Zinc as I would probably be losing lots more hair if I hadn't, and I will continue to take them for at least another 6 months. I know this is very upsetting, some people say that it is a small price to pay and that you just have to "wait it out", but I was also very upset about it and wanted to do something rather than just wait for it to stop on it's own, and I think what I am doing has definately made a difference. I wish you the best of luck!
   — Vicki K.

November 2, 2001
HI! I began losing tons of hair at about 4 months post op. I had a huge bald spot in the front that was driving me crazy. Suddenly at about 7 1/2 or 8 months post op, it stopped and I began to realize that it was actually growing back. I'm almost 11 months post op now, and most of my hair has grown back. It's not quite as thick as it was, but it looks fine. I didn't use any creams, or pills, or lotions either. It just naturally grew back. My surgeon had warned me about this beforehand. He knows of NO patients (and he has done this for 10 years) who have gone completely bald or who haven't regrown their hair, so I wouldn't worry about it too much. I know it's frustrating when it's happening, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Please try to relax and just realize this is a side effect of surgery and will pass. Good luck. Maria
   — Maria H.