concerns

Hi Everyone ... I am a newbie at OH.  I am in the process of getting surgery set up.    One HUGE concern of mine is hairloss.  I didn't think it would be, but  the more I am reading, I guess I am realizing that it is a possibility and it is all I am thinking about.  Does it happen to everyone?  Is it just thinning?  Do I need to get a wig? 

Curious in Connecticut

I did have hair loss, anesthesia is the cause, and not everyone has it.  About 3 months out and it started growing back in at 6 months.  No one ever knew it but me (and my sister would have told me if it was noticeable) and I think it was more of a shock when I showered and had hair was on my towel and hands.  Some say Biotin helps, others said a fruit a day helped.  I have fine hair, and I'm blond, so it is coming back and I just cut mine short and beat it to the punch!   It is all worth it in the end and my hair is growing back nicely!

Vickyruth

The last poster is correct one reason for hair lose is being under a gerneral.  I did some research and found that if you UP YOUR PROTEIN BEFORE surgery the better, and then drink drink drink to flush everything out of your system as fast as you can. And get as much protein in after as you can.   I did this and NEVER LOST any hair
Good Luck,
Robin

I also heard to begin proteins before surgery will prevent hairloss.  What I did not hear is what kind of protein?  As I am finding, each of us are unique in how our bodies process this life changing process.  Good Luck with your journey. 

it's just temporary

i had hair loss while doing weigh****chers a few years back.  went to a dermatologist who explained hair to me and sure enough, it came back.

i had surgery 3.5 months ago and i am losing lots of strands on my sweaters and such, but nothing major...yet

It depends on an individual: genetics, how much hair do you have, how much will you lose, what will be your diet after surgery...

Mot days post op I was able to take 80 gr or proteins, i am taking my vitamins, use the special shampoo, etc.   Did I lost some hair? yes i did, but even my hairdresser tells me that she would never tell that I did. My only sign were hair on my drain. 
i did cut it short - but I do look better in short hair anyway, so that was a plus, and i do like it better.  I also had a second surgery in November and again could not eat much - but I made sure I had all my proteins, vitamins for every (or almost every day), and if i had days that I had less - I tried to have more the next day.  
Proteins, Vitamins, water  - I believe in that order - may help you retain your hair...

And if not - it is just hair, they will grow back... but you will be smaller and hopefully  - healthy.

Good luck.  

I think you mostly got the answers you were looking for re: hair loss. I just wanted to say hello. I see you are going to Dr. Bell and he is the most amazing Dr. ever! I had my surgery in June with him and I am down 120 lbs. If you ever want to chat or have questions, feel free to drop me a line!

Thanks for responding.  I have yet to meet Dr. Bell, but have heard nothing but wonderful things about him.  I am going to the support group meeting the first week of March and hopefully by then will have an appointment to meet with him.  How long did the process take you from beginning to the actual surgery?  I am so anxious now ... the waiting is the hardest part.

Hair loss... not everyone gets it... most see some mild thinning, but some maintain a lovely head of hair.  Others shed a bit more than "tolerable" and they freak out... take mega doses of vitamins X,Y,Z.  Biotin and Zinc are said to help, but really, you need protein to keep your hair healthy.  Push your protein intake... take in as much as you can tolerate (obviously don't go overboard).  Wigs... I only know of one WLS patient need a wig and she had a band, not RNY!  I've seen plenty of thinning on people, but it all grows back in most cases (thicker and sometimes in a different texture).  I lost a fair amount of hair.  I cut it short becaues it was scragly looking when long.  When I tried to pull it back in a poney tail, you'd see streaks of my scalp and that looked terrible.  So... I cut it short and it has helped make it look healtheir.  I got really sick with complications, so no wonder that my hair thinned out.  It is not shedding as much anymore... and in time, it should start to fill back in. 

Best thing to protect yourself from hair loss is proper nutrition (protein, supplements), water, stress reduction, and plenty of sleep.

HTH!

If your hair is thinning already, I'd be concerned. If you have a normal head of normal hair, don't worry. It might thin, but YOU will be the main person to notice the difference. I felt like I lost a lot of hair... here is my hair at 10 months, about 5 months after the hair loss stopped: