Hair Loss

Yes I Know it is normal, and I know it is because I need to get in more protein, But I am sooooooooo trying!  I  am even doing the biotin and my hair is falling out like crazy!  Each morning in the shower I am picking hair off my hands as I shampoo, I have to rinse the tub after each shower because I am so embarrassed at all the hair.... but what is really hard is that my hair is so extremely thinner that I hate the way it looks- I know it sounds vein  and someone is going to tell me not to worry that it is only temporary- but at this point ( 8 months out ) I worry that it is still falling out so much.

I am thinking of getting a hair cut to maybe try to help the fact that I can not style it- but as I already have short hair I worry that it might even look worse to go shorter since I have no body left.- 

HELP!  Any suggestions on what others have done, are doing or have heard.....  and when did your hair stop falling out and better yet.... when did it grow Back?!!

Big Hugs!

My hair lady suggested that I use Nioxin. I started using the Shampoo amd Scalp treatment a few months ago. It is supposed to help hair grow back. That along with Biotin helped me........ I think. My hair has stopped falling out and is now growing back. I did cut it shorter too which helped. You can get the Nioxin at Trade Secret. Good Luck :)

Hi...this is the worst part of the surgery. I hated losing all that hair especially because my hair is so fine and thin anyway.

My hairdresser said that those products don't work for everyone....she was right they didn't help me. My hair started growing back in at about 8 months out. Still not looking the best but it has improved some..

Many people get theirs cut....can't tell you what to do on that subject. It is a personal preference.

Good luck and hang in there ....it will get better!!

Hugs....connie d

Those of us who are more than a few months out can relate to your cry for help. It probably will not help make you feel better, but believe us when we say, this is just one of the downside side-effects of the surgery. Someone once told me your hair and nails are an indicator of what your nutrition was like 2-3 months earlier. Keep getting in all the protein you possibly can and within a couple of months you should see some noticeable improvement on the loss of hair. 2-3 months beyond that and you should see the hair growing back in again also. That was the advise given to me and they were so right on the money. Good luck and stay brave. It will pass.

My hair fell out a lot before the surgery so if its falling out more now then I havent really noticed.

My hair is pretty long and has always been rather thin.  I have no advice for you but atleast its winter and hats are cute!

One of my favorite members on the DS forum actually had a big issue with hair loss post op and she ended up doing all she could but couldn't take it anymore and splurged on a wig. It looked absolutely incredible on her and she felt like a woman again! I believe she only wore it for about 4 months before her hair started to grow back. Just throwing that out there because I know there are wig shops in Mpls/St. Paul so don't totally rule it out if you feel like you might be better with one.

Having previously worked in the salon biz, I will agree that Nioxin does not help everyone. Just know that hair always grows and your's will come back Cheri. Keep up with your protein and supplements - it's not an option.

Ohhhh...one other thing I was going to mention is do not be product shy! There is a root booster from Kenra that works wonders to gain volume. Use some volume mousse and then spray the root booster at your crown, use a blowdryer & round brush. You'll get some good volume out of it!

My hair started falling out at 3 months by the handful.  Kinda scary.  I've notice that at 9-10 months out it has slowed way down and I can now see small little hairs growing back.  I have taken 5,000 mcg of Biotin since about 2 months out, which is only supposed to help with regrowth.

Mine started falling out at around 3 months and has really slowed at 6 months.  I am using nioxin and biotin when I remember. 

This was the worst part of the surgery... Hands down.  I have no magic words, just that it totally sucks! 

My hair got really thin years before surgery, because of a messed up thyroid.  So it was the one thing that I was MOST concerned with at the pre-op info session!  (Yes, it's vain, and we're human.  It's allowed.)  I was already doing the biotin and Nioxin thing for years when I had WLS.

My hair loss slowed down a great deal at about 9 months, which was also when my weight loss slowed down significantly, and I was actually BUMMED!  I almost came to think that the hair loss = active weight loss, and if I wasn't losing hair, I wasn't losing weight!  Not sure if that's true or not, but it still kinda went in spurts. 

I noticed the re-growth in a big way at about 18 months post-op.  I'm sure it was there sooner, I just noticed it because the "new" hair was much curlier than the "old" hair! 

My advice?  Try the biotin and Nioxin for at least 6 months.  It won't change things overnight, you have to give it time.  And spend some $$ at a GOOD salon, to get advice on cut, style and products.  They can all have an impact on your appearance! 

And when you're STILL bumming over your hair, pull out your fat pants and have a good long look at 'em.  Perspective is a good thing.