Question:
I've read that you can lose you're hair getting gastic bypass

All my life I've had a hair problem. I was born with extremely thin and fine hair and throughout my life (due to type 2 diabtes) its gotten thinner. I have my 1st consultation next week and i read that people can experience hair loss sometimes. That really scares me..alot. I know it sounds vain and stupid, but its a huge self esteem issue with me. I have a co-worker who asked me what was a bigger self esteen issue for me: my weight or my hair. I told her most days its my hair. So I'm kinda scared about it. I'll talk to the doctor about it definately, but if its lost due to the surgery, will it grow back?    — gizzythumper (posted on November 2, 2007)

November 2, 2007
I am only 7 weeks out from RNY but I have been told over and over IF you don't get sufficient protein then you can loose your hair. Not everyone does. Vitamin difficieny can play a big part in that as well. So, make sure you take your vitamins and get your protein in and you should be ok. As far as if it will grow back should you loose it, I have read other messages that people lost it and then it did come back but it took it awhile. I am sure others with more knowledge will write and let you know more. Good luck!!
   — juliebelle0402

November 2, 2007
Hello! Yes, you will lose some hair and it does grow back. Mine grew back curlier than ever. I cut my hair to my shoulders when it started to fall out. Now 4 years later it is at my waist and thick as ever. Take your vitamins and drink or eat your protien and you will be fine!
   — Carlyn M.

November 2, 2007
Hi - You have described me to a tee..... always had very thin fine hair.... balding on top over the past few years and hating it. I had my RNY in April of this year and since have lost alot more hair - I have resorted to purchasing a real hair hairpiece that goes on the top of my head and I have had it died to match - well I had it all done (mine and the wigs) to match exactly and it looks great. I am told it will grow back in time. I now am 80lbs down and feel wonderful and hate my own hair so this makes me look great.... I feel great. The wiglet cost me about 250.00 but well worth it. And hopefully with time my own hair will come back in. My protein levels are great so its not from enough protein. Best of luck with your decision. I'm sure you'll make the right one.
   — Suzanne B.

November 2, 2007
HI, I TOO HAVE THIN HAIR. MY SURGERY IS NEXT FRIDAY 11/9 AND TO TELL YOU THE TRUE I'M MORE WORRIED ABOUT LOSING MY HAIR THAN I AM ABOUT THE SURGERY. I WAS TOLD TO TAKE BIOTIN, YOU CAN BUY IT ANYWHERE AND THEY ARE TINY LITTLE PILLS AND BE SURE TO GET ENOUGH VITAMENS AND PROTEIN AND THAT IT WILL COME BACK. I'M PRAYING THAT I DON'T LOOSE ANY HAIR BUT IF I DO I SURE HOPE THAT IT COMES BACK. HAVE A BLESSED DAY, DEBI ROBINSON
   — DEBI R.

November 2, 2007
Just as the weight loss is different for eveyone so is the hair loss. Some say it's due to lack of protein but that is not the only reason. I started losing mine and I was doing way over the recommended protein. It WILL grow back! Good Luck and HAPPY WEIGHT LOSS!
   — Lost4Ever

November 2, 2007
Just as the weight loss is different for eveyone so is the hair loss. Some say it's due to lack of protein but that is not the only reason. I started losing mine and I was doing way over the recommended protein. It WILL grow back! Good Luck and HAPPY WEIGHT LOSS!
   — Lost4Ever

November 2, 2007
I am almost 2 years out now and at the 4 mth mark I lost tons of hair and it got VERY thin. My hair was super thin and fine to begin with so I got really depressed when it started to fall out. I took the botin and ate my protein and it still fell out. I finally resorted to getting a full wig from Merle Norman and fell in love with it. No-one would believe me when I told them it was a wig. I wore it for almost 10 mths and my hair started coming back in. It still is not real thick like everyone else says theirs gets and I have a problem with it not taking a curl, but I can go without the wig now. I did keep it for those "bad hair" days.... Good luck
   — Nee P

November 2, 2007
I have been told that taking Biotin will help with the hair loss. Be sure to check with your dietician first. Good Luck Kristi
   — Kristi.mccloud8033

November 2, 2007
I will add myself to the mix of thin, fine hair...I was terrified of losing it too but decided it wasn't worth cancelling the surgery because of it...I suffered with hair loss too, the only advice I can give you is to use a good quality shampoo, free of chemicals and try not to wash it more than you have to. My hair is better now and I use lots of products to make it have volume and look thick. I don't think biotin works but I know you need alot of protein.
   — Sheri A.

November 2, 2007
Hi Nicole. I had my surgery 08-21-07. I take my protein, vitamins, & biotin faithfully NOW. Wow, I really need to keep up with this group so we can monitor each other's progress. I too have a history of thinning hair. At about 40, I started balding on top. Now at 55, I have very little hair at the crown of my head-male pattern baldness. I wear a ponytail to hide the balding areas. As a Black woman, I can hide most of the balding under my "curly" textured locks. But I too am scared about losing MORE hair. But get this clear, I never even considered my hair in deciding whether I should have the WLS surgery. I have been sick, fat, and dying long enough. I was heading for an early grave. Even though there are no promises in life, I really needed to do something about this fat, this silent KILLER! Hair? Girl, we can BUY hair! We can't buy improved quality of life. I stopped putting in hair chemicals years ago to no avail. But it's important to note that my sister-Terraine & I both have a lifetime history of poor nutrition especially in consumption of proper protein levels. In contrast, my other siblings (terry & shawn) have full hair growth. Shawn & Terry are also very good at eating more appropriate protein levels. I really hope that my improved protein diet and intake of supplements will turn around this trend. I would love to have hair again. God bless you in making this very important decision. I suggest that you keep a strick food diary so that you are CERTAIN that you are taking in the proper protein levels. Try www.myfitnesspal.com. Please select me as one of your friends.
   — rtmazyck

November 2, 2007
I had the RYN 7-11-07 and YEs, I am losing my already thin hair.. I was told to take biotin, collegon, Alpha liporic, horsetail and flax seed, for my hair and dry skin. It seems to be working. my skin is not as dry and my hair loss has slowed down, before it was handfulls.. and for me thats scarry.. Best of luck, cynthia
   — babesintoyland

November 2, 2007
Hi I am 4 months out of RNY, I lost some but some people due, just do your protein and vit. also there a vit. for hair,nail,skin, at walmart it good to help, I had aperm about a month ago. I am doing ok. Just think of the weight loss and there aways wigs until it get back, you be a diffent you everyday with wigs. Good luck. carmanWV
   — carman

November 3, 2007
I've also had thin & wimpy hair since I had babies (a long, long time ago!), and had never heard about the loss. But I lost hair at the 4-6 month mark. After my WLS, after my TT, after my revision (and by then I was taking PLENTY of protein!! 180-210g in supplement!), after my mom died, after my dad died, and then this summer, after breaking my arm and having had it surgically bolted back together. And again, I routinely do 180g protein in supplement, but increased it each time knowing stress would eat my hair! And THIS time, I was also eating almost exclusively protein foods IN ADDITION to my 180g or more. BUT I did start taking Hair, Skin, Nails (which includes biotin) back in 95 and have taken it ever since. I spose I shoudla doubled it when I broke my arm (duh, couldn't think with pain filling up my brain) and the hair I have is much shinier and stronger than before. I am able to fill it up with air to make it look more normal, but stil, it's thin. As thin as pre-op, but not see-through. But I lost 150 lbs, so even if the hair had not come back each time (better, just not thicker), it would have been worth it.
   — vitalady

November 4, 2007
I actually heard from a nutritionist that people taking MORE THAN the recommended amounts of vitamin B were losing more hair. I don't know if this is true or not but she said it was something she and other nutritionists had noticed. I'm talking about people taking more than their docs told them to. I have not had surgery yet but am not looking forward to possibly losing my hair! But I'll take it over being dead too soon.
   — Nanci H.

November 4, 2007
has anyone ever thought that it may be from not enough fat. I know people think that all fat is bad but we need it. It helps hair and skin among other things. My hair was falling out by the handfuls taking more than enough protein started taking biotin and it was still falling out plus my skin was drier and more fine wrinkles on my hands. I started eating a couple tablespoons of peanut butter each night or at least more nuts and I could tell a difference in 3 days
   — swmb

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