Is Hair Loss Unavoidable After WLS?

i started losing at about 10 weeks out. my hair was already fine and i could really tell, especially at my hair line of all  goddamned places.  it looked super sad and ratty.  i had it cut short and coloured it and i know it's still thinned but it looks a lot better, imho.  i can already see baby hairs starting to regrow, and i'm 4 mos out.

It seems the good news is that it does grow back in sooner or later.  Thank you all for your replies, it is very informative.

Cheryl

Hi Cheryl,

I'm not sure it's entirely avoidable but you certainly can minimize the effects.  Mine started coming out about 3 months after surgery. The biotin I tried didn't really help and neither did the "Biosil" stuff they sold me for $32 at GNC. 

Also, people will tell you to run out and buy "Nioxin" shampoo. I hated the stuff--another $30+ down the drain.

What really helped was increasing my protein intake. I think that if I had been more compliant about getting the entire 60-80 grams a day FROM THE BEGINNING, I might not have seen as much hairloss as I did.

As soon as I did increase--and I used the "protein bullets" to make sure I was getting a minimum of 80 g/day, my hair stopped falling out and started growing back.

I did need to get it cut short and it's weird and spikey right now but it is growing back.

Even at it's worst, it wasn't all that bad--certainly not bad enough to shy away from the surgery!

I hope that helps....

Hi Tina

That helps a great deal. Knowing that ahead of time might help avoid some or most of the hair loss.  I am a bit concerned because my hair is somewhat thin to begin with.  Whatever happens I still think the surgery is well worth it.  Thanks again !


Cheryl

The hair loss is something that is freaking me out too...I've already had some hair loss ..not sure why..but I haven't even had the surgery yet....I feel sick when I think about it because my hair is fine already.....

Does anyone know a place where you can get a wig but that looks natural....I have a fat round face and I definitely wouldn't look good bald...

Thanks

Sue

The hair loss we experience after WLS is called telogen effluvium. Here's an information page regarding this condition... www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/telogen_effluvium.ht ml .

It is a temporary condition brought on by stress in the body. Ours being surgery and "crash diets".

I've been freaked out by this as well but so far this is what I've learned.

People use all sorts of products like biotin and even Rogaine. From what I can tell they don't sell Women's Rogaine in Canada like they do in the US but I read on this board someone's dermatologist said Men's Rogaine would work just fine.

You want to make sure you take in all of your vitamins and protein a day however I've heard of people being very good at taking their vitamins and protein everyday and they still experienced some hair loss. So it may be unavoidable if you're just relying on oral nutrition.

I've heard great things about the Rogaine however someone did mention that it can take up to 3 months to start working like it should.

I plan on using Rogaine myself. However the stuff is very pricy. I did find a good alternative that gives two month's supply for the same price as Rogaine's one month..well.ca/products/apo-gain_2006.html . I'm hoping to get some next month and start my treatment. So far I've only been taking my biotin as well as my normal daily nutrition.

That's about all of the useful information I know of as far as hair loss goes.

Good Luck!

I have a friend who had her surgery almost 2 months befor emine...she was right on top of getting her required protein in from teh start and sufferred NO hair loss...I had a bit of trouble at the beginning finding something I could tolerate and I have had some hair loss...it looks like it comes out in clumps ...BUT...I knew what I was in for therefore it is not freaking me out and I know it will slow down.

It started falling out for me at around 4.5 months post-op.....

I am not sure if there is any way to avoid it but like I mentioned my friend suffered no hair loss as she made sure to get the necessary amount of protein in from the start.  You might also check out the benefits of biotin...(which I have heard that some people use), but I am not sure of whether it is beneficial or not.