Advice About Hair Loss

So, you're worried about hair loss.

First, let's get real. In the very worst scenario ever (which I've never heard of, by the way) would you rather be bald and thin forever or fat and with nice hair forever? Hats and wigs vs fat clothes and unhealthy, your choice!

Okay, that aside, what is realistic and probable is that you will have hair loss, maybe a lot of it.

What does that really mean?

If your hair is already thin on the top of your head, already an issue, then you're probably going to be unhappy for awhile because it's going to get worse.

Advice for men: You're lucky, shaved heads are trendy and hats are in style.

Advice for women: Hats are in style. Right now, start playing with hats, find some you like, and establish "I am a hat chick" as part of your personality and style. Have fun with it. Head scarves, too. All of us should do this for bad hair days, actually, but if your hair is thin on top of your head and you already struggle, it will most likely get worse.  I hope you have short hair or don't mind cutting it, because honestly that's probably the easiest to deal with if your hair is already thin--keeping it pretty short until it's grown out enough to thicken back up and then start working with it longer, with a stylist's help.

If your hair isn't thin on top, there's a very good chance that even if you lose a lot, it won't show much.

I wear my hair in a bob--parted, chin-length or a little longer.  I have lost SO much hair, but people don't think I have. And I really have lost a lot. When I shampoo my hair it feels so thin. My hair stylist can vouch for my loss. But even when I was in the dermatologist's office recently and mentioned my surgery, the nurse (female) shot a quick eagle-eye at my hair and said, "Wow, you haven't lost your hair, how did you manage that?"

But I did buy a cute fedora that I wear sometimes.  I also keep my hair very clean (have to--I have an oily scalp) so it doesn't flatten out on my head. As long as it manages to be a little bit fluffy, I'm fine.

So when you ask, "What can I do to stop hair loss?" I will advise you to take biotin and vitamins but don't hold your breath.

Instead, ask yourself, "What can I do to look good even if I lose hair?" and start experimenting now instead of waiting.

Anybody else got advice to add on?

When does hair loss usually start?  I'm almost 3 months out and have not had any.  Not that I'm hoping for some but I just wondered if it hasn't started by now, could it down the road.  I'm 35 and am following my plain quite well.  I'm getting over 100g of protein a day and around 64oz of fluids.  Anything else I should be doing to prevent hair loss? 

It usually happens around 4 - 6 months, or so people say.  Mine was 6 months and after. 

You're making great progress!

Thanks!  I will keep an eye out for the hair loss.  Hopefully there isn't much. 

Around 3 1/2 months to 4 months out I started losing clumps of hair. It was frightening. It was beyond frightening. It was HORRIFYING. Everywhere I went, I would shed hair. It was embarrassing because I was like a walking hair bomb. I don't even know how I have any left. About a month ago, I read a post by Elina where she said usually hair loss is between 4-7 months after surgery. Sure enough....I am about 2 weeks away from being 7 months out and my hair loss has completely stopped!! Except of course for normal strands here and there. And the amazing thing is that I already have new growth sprouting up! So to anyone experiencing hair loss, don't panic til you're at least 7 months out!

Does anybody notice your hair looks thin or are you the only one? 

Others have noticed. It has been humiliating!

Aw, I'm sorry. I hope they've noticed your weight loss, too!

The other thing I would note is that for each of us, hair loss, how much, etc. is different.  It's good to plan for hair loss, and I like your ideas Louisamay!  I was extremely lucky, as I didn't experience hair loss at all.  I kept expecting it to happen, but it never did.  I'm 18 months out now, and maintaining, so I don't expect a change at this point.

Here at work, I know 3 people who had RNY in the past 5 years.  All experienced some hair loss, but it wasn't noticeable for 2 of them and only slightly for the 3rd.  The most recent person had her surgery 2 years ago, and she put her hair in an updo for awhile, then cut it.  If she hadn't told me, I never would have known she was losing hair.  She is now wearing her hair in the same way she did prior to surgery, so whatever loss she had stopped some time ago and she had re-growth.  While I was very lucky, I was willing to deal with temporary hair loss in order to get a handle on my weight and health.  Without the surgery, I know I would have been dead by now or soon, and I would have been a corpse with a nice head of hair.  Having said all of this, I don't mean to be insensitive to others' feelings.  It is a real concern for most, and pre-planning for it, as Louisamay suggested, can help ease things.