Question:
Has anyone ever gone bald?
I knew that hair loss was a "side effect" of wls. But lately I have been losing enough to make small wigs for my daughters barbies, I am just over 3 months post-op and doing great with the weight loss. I had Lap RYN, but I was wondering has anyone ever gone bald? I have been able to notice my scalp more and more each day! Has anyone ever gotten a real short hair cut, just to make it not feel like you are losing as much? Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated! Thanks ...... AnnMarie Ward [email protected] — AnnMarie W. (posted on August 3, 2000)
August 3, 2000
AnnMarie, just as Ray says hair loss is very common. If you check our
database, you will find many reasons, ranging from anesthesia to decreased
protein to rapid significant weight loss. Try increasing your protein,
take biotin and zinc supplements and yes, a short haircut does help relieve
the stress on the hair you have. My drain was covered from month 3 to month
7 post op. At month 8 it has decreased quite a bit. It does indeed grow
back. Many of us have said we would rather be bald and skinny than fat with
a thick head of hair. Good luck with your journey, Sandy
— Sandy 2.
August 3, 2000
AnnMarie, I had the same question when I was 3 mo. post-op!! I thought for
sure I was going bald. Fortunatly, I am almost 7 mo. post op and still have
hair. Just remember, as you are losing hair, new hair is growing. At 3 mo.
post op, I started using the Nioxin shampoo system. {Purchased at select
hair salons.} It helped a lot. Now I have hair coming in where I did'nt
even have hair before! Hair loss is very common, but it is frightening. It
is only temporary. I still lose a little, but nothing compared to the 3rd,
4th and 5th months. Good Luck!
— Dani J.
August 3, 2000
Thank goodness I had a lot of hair to begin with.. I had pretty steady
hair loss starting 3rd month to about 6th month then I got my hair cut
that helped the most... The hair loss has now slowed to a normal hair
shed rate.. My surgeon recommended ZBEC.. although I never took it.. I
did use GNC UltraHair..I have no idea if it helped or not.. I'm not
bald so who knows..
— Victoria B.
August 3, 2000
I am now 9 months post Lap proximal RNY and I started my hair loss at 4
months. It has finally stopped. It was very scary for a time. I called
my clinic and they told me that not one of their patients had gone bald
(they did 400 of these surgeries last year) and I wouldn't be the first. I
thought for a while I was going to prove them wrong, but that didn't
happen. I did get a very short haircut and that helped visually and
psychologically.
— Jilda H.
August 3, 2000
AnnMarie, I also had surgery about 3 months ago and I am losing hair in
amazing handfuls. I have been reading everything I can on here about how
to stop this hair loss. When I blow dry my hair, my feet are covered with
the lost hair and my brush is full. When I shower, I pull out handfuls of
it. It is a little scary, I'll admit. My hair is nearly to my waist and
so thin now that I only pull it up in a weak, straggly little pathetic
ponytail and hope no more falls out. I've made the decision to cut it
shoulder length in hopes that will make it look better!
— Beth B.
August 3, 2000
The first thing you need to do is talk to your Doctor , the second thing
you need to do is see a hairdresser . I can tell you from a hairdresser
point of view there are several things you can do but without actually
seeing your hair they would all be generic. One of the biggest mistakes
women make is to keep there hair long, Even if the hair is normally thin ,
it still has weight , and that weight puts added stress on the hair closest
to the scalp also pulling the hair up with rubber bands weather coated or
uncoated and no matter how loose they think it is /is a big mistake. Spend
the money on yourself ,you are worth it , see a good hairdresser , and
purchase professional products geared to your individual (as recommended by
the cosmetologist) hair needs. over the counter just isn't the same.
— Rose A.
Click Here to Return