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it doesn't matter if it's bypass or sleeve. As someone else said, any major surgery can cause hair loss because of trauma to the body. I think we see it more often after WLS than some other surgeries, though, because in addition to the surgery stress, we're also taking in very few calories those first few months. not everyone loses hair. I lost very little. I barely noticed let alone anyone else. And for most people, you're the only one who'll notice it. Most pre-ops and early post-ops worry about hair loss (and loose skin, too), but I think i can speak for most of us who are a year or more out that in the grand scheme of things, it's really a blip on the screen. I don't know why I wasted even one brain cell worrying about it.

That is fantastic! I had my VSG Monday (4/25) also. I drank 64 oz of fluids np but have not tried protein yet. Tomorrow I start full liquids but my dr said not to worry about counting proteins yet. He said as long as I drink a lot and take the multi vitamins I should be fine. He said 20 oz of protein if I can stomach it, I am a Little worried about hair loss though. Crazy how each Docs recs are so different! How is your pain level? Mine is tolerable but tough to find a comfy position in bed. Wishing you and all a good recovery!

I have locs (22 yrs now) and I did A LOT of low manipulation and semi free forming when I originally had surgery in the end of 2017. I was so worried about hair loss I did a ton of research in med journals on treatments for Telogen Effluvium (the type of hair loss most WLS patients experience) you can find a compilation of the journals I found most promising here: I had mild thinning along my temples and didn’t lose any locs. Pics included❤️

I took biotin months before my first procedure with VSG to prevent hair loss and found that my hair loss was extremely minimal compared to others in the community. I still continue to take biotin to this day yet I'm still worried about hair loss with revision surgery coming up, haha! I hope it has helped you!!!

Hi I'm currently going through the process of getting my surgery date and I am so worried about hair loss. My mom and grandma has had the bypass over 10 years ago and everyone says there hair grows back but my mom's only grew back a little and my grandmas never really grew back. I also know someone who has had it over 10 years ago and she says her hair is still thin. I have long hair and lost some hair on a extreme diet i did once before so I'm worried I don't have much to lose this time. My hair only stopped falling out when I ate a lot of calories and was gaining weight:( I'm just really confused [emoji53] Sent from my SM-N986U using BariatricPal mobile app

I don’t doubt that - I do t want to be obese anymore. But I’ve known people that have lost weight (sleeve or not) and then obsessed over their new body not being perfect. I know someone who had the skin removed and is still critical of their body but infinitely happier that they aren’t obese anymore. If that makes sense. Perfectionist, I guess. I don’t see that for myself. I am proud of my body that gave me my babies. It worked hard, lol. I’m just trying to get a hold on issues that might pop up. I sew my own clothes - but have stopped so I can save my fabric for when I lose weight - but I wonder sometimes if I wear a dress - will I need spanx? Can you just tuck the extra skin in your drawers? Lol. Is it noticeable to the rest of the world? Things like this. I also worry about hair loss but I know I won’t be able to do much about that should that time come. The other thing I wonder about is what happens after surgery the first few months when your caloric intake is like 500 calories? Do you get that low blood sugar feeling all the time? If go too long without eating I get really shaky and dizzy. Does that happen or does your body somehow adjust? I’m wondering because I will have kids to keep up with after surgery and if I constantly feel shaky that’s not going to work well.

yes, you do have to work at it or you'll gain back a significant amount of weight. The surgery acts more like a strong tail wind - you still do the work, but it gives you a huge boost. I started off MUCH heavier than you - I had about 15 stone to lose. I am 60 years old. I spent DECADES losing and gaining weight. Four stone would have been one of my more successful attempts - and I would always ALWAYS gain it back. And I had 15 stone to lose. I knew there was no way I would EVER be able to do that on my own, if I couldn't even keep four stone off for more than a few months. as for hair loss, some people lose a lot, some lose very little, some don't lose any at all (I lost hardly any). But for most of us, we're the only ones who notice it. And it grows back. I think most "vets" on here will tell you that in retrospect, we wonder why we wasted even one brain cell worrying about hair loss. In the grand scheme of things, the hair loss was just a minor (and temporary) annoyance. I would take the hair loss any day over almost 400 lbs again. ANY DAY!

Hey guys new here, I’m 3 weeks post op, any advice or tips y’all can give me ? I’m worried about hair loss since my hair is already thin 😭

also, re: hair loss - some people never lose any. Some have it come out in clumps. The majority of people, though, just shed. They notice it - but no one else does. And it grows back. I worried about hair loss incessantly. But I'm here to say that in retrospect, I don't know why I wasted even ONE brain cell worrying about that. No one noticed my hair loss, and I am SO MUCH HAPPIER being normal weight that I don't know why I was even worried for one second about my hair. It's a small price to pay - and if you're like most of us, no one is going to notice your hair loss except for you.

Hello Everyone! I hope you're all doing well. I'm so glad I found this site. I will be one week post op tomorrow. My head has been working overtime. The reason is that I also suffer from anxiety. So there are so many questions and concerns rumbling around in my head. I'm worried about leaks, worried that I'm not taking enough nutrients in, worried about hair loss, worried about when to start taking vitamins, wondering when I'll start losing weight. I'm thinking about how all this will work after I'm several weeks post op. Does my appetite naturally decrease? Will it be easy or hard to eat very small portions in 20 or 30 minute intervals? I worry that every little post op symptom I feel is something bad! Yikes, I know I can be too much. I sincerely apologize, everyone. I know that it's still very recent for me and I need to be patient. Intellectually I know that but my heart and head are saying otherwise. Thanks to you all out there for listening. Soyra

I'm not worried about hair loss, my hair is super thick so if anything I'm kind of looking forward to that part. It's just that I don't want someone to assume I'm "normal average" size and then have to explain the loose skin and see them get grossed out. Just not looking forward to that part. And that may all be in my head, maybe whoever I tell will be super cool about it, I guess it's just the unknown that worries me.

Your describing exactly what I am going through. I'm almost 4 months post-op and having terrible acne and my hair is coming out. I never thought I would have to worry about hair loss because I have a lot if hair. But, seeing the amount if hair in my brush is alarming. I dont have the solution yet, but I did go and buy biotin and shampoo and conditioner with biotin in it. I've been using it for about a week now. Hoping it works. Best of luck to you!

NuMe2 you are so rigtht about varying calories to break stalls! I too was at a stall for many weeks but when I eat a little more and bring my calorie count up I seem to lose weight! For instance - yesterday my daughter brought home for pizza for dinner and even though I know it's a big "no, no" per carbs, sodium processing and such I went ahead and indulged in a slice and it upped my daily calorie count to 1120. I woke up this morning with a loss! I always make sure I get the minimum of 64 oz especially since I had a Shoulder Surgery this month on Feb 12th and am on pain pills as I got to make sure I don't bind up because well many of you know that although Milk of Magnesium does a great job of breaking the dam open withing a matter of hours it is still very messy. So I noticed that if I dip my calories up once in awhile it makes a difference. I vary between 800 to 1200 daily. I always, always make sure I get my minimum protein of 70 grams and am taking all of my vitamin and supplements daily. I use Bariatric Advantage HP meal replacement , Premier protein shakes and sometimes Genepro protein powder in yogurt to meet these needs. I worry about getting all the supplements and especially since having 2 surgeries in 3 months and worried about hair loss. I have also noticed that my skin is super super dry but and I am still trying to figure our that battle! If I don't feel like cooking and want something fast have been buying the Smartmade frozen dinners from Walmart such as turkey, and roasted vegetables as this is low carb and high protein, RealGood also makes a chicken crusted pizza that is also low carb high protein. I also like the Lean Cuisine herb roasted chicken but this one only has 16 protein where the others are higher carb. So these types of things help me out a bunch and in a pinch. I also still eat a lot of beans, LOL! (need that fiber). Some days I can eat more then others and other days I just can't put much in and it is so weird how it all works like that. Just this morning upon waking it was a little more difficult swallowing water then most. I think this surgery just put's you on a see-saw like that and after reading so many post in this forum I am comforted by the fact that it is not unusual and so I do not stress it anymore. I have yet to throw anything up but have eaten too fast, too much and had the sweats, chest pains and miserable feeling of needing to. Like many some days I question whether my stomach was really resized and then others I definitely know there is a restriction. I still fight head hunger and bad habits but have made great improvement here. I have been to a restaurant and ordered a full meal and then find that I barely make a dent in it too the point the waitress asked me if there was something wrong with my food, LOL and felt like "wow that was a waste of money - what am I doing!" I am so looking forward to the day of eating Salads and raw vegetables which for me is not until 6 months post op per doctors orders! So because of 2nd surgery and having my arm in a sling it has slowed me way down in exercising. I am doing my best to try and walk 30 minutes daily but when I have a bunch of doctor appointments in a day and everything takes me forever to do it falls by the wayside. I like most worry about loose skin and wish I could start some weight training but all of that is on hold for now. Once my energy levels get back up I need to figure out how to work strength training in. I just know that it will make all the world of difference. I am so grateful for this forum and you guys sharing your stories and struggles as this has helped me so much! Well guys that is my journey thus far from having a hiatal hernia repair and gastric sleeve surgery December 26, 2018. Shoulder surgery February 12, 2019 to repair a rotator cuff, SLAP and Labral tear.

Please research Telogen Effluvium, but here's a link to things I've come across https://www.bariatricpal.com/search/?q=Worried about hair loss&type=forums_topic#

https://www.bariatricpal.com/search/?q=Worried about hair loss&type=forums_topic&sortby=relevancy&search_and_or=and

Putting the Telogen Effluvium hair loss research I used in a thread for the interested. Started researching this after a visit to my dermatologist confirmed, biotin and minoxidil would not help much. I believe I started taking LLysine as soon as I was allowed to swallow pills post op. I experienced very very minimal hair loss (slight thinning of edges) My hair is back to normal now 1yr post op (Noteworthy info: I practiced low manipulation of my hair for months (ballerina bun), my iron ferritin and other vitamins and minerals were perfect during this time because I received iv infusions and oral supplementation, protein was around 45g daily when I started and worked up to 60g daily) I would suggest consulting your teams, doing your own research, spending the least, understanding that genetics and environmental factors will also play a role despite best efforts, and getting an amazing silk/satin scarf or pillow case to protect what you have. Safe Journey! https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.1365-2230.2002.01076.x Lysine and Iron (you may have to purchase access, mine has lapsed) https://link.springer.com/article/10.1381/096089296765557295 zinc study http://www.hpbiotin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/beslenme-ve-sac.pdf LLysine and Iron study http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/medical/issues/sag-11-41-5/sag-41-5-10-1005-853.pdf vit D study https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3819075/#b14-tlsr-21-2-91 Tocotrienol (Vit E family) study

I figure I'm going to shed like crazy anyway, I haven't bothered with biotin. I lost so much hair after each kid that I had visible stubble. I started going silver/white at eighteen. I've been married for twenty-three years to the same man whose been my best friend for 31 years. I'll shave my head before I worry about hair loss. Now, just because I don't give a flying flip, that doesn't mean all of you are as comfortable with hair loss as I am. Best wishes, and I hope the biotin helps.

I had lap band to bypass, and had no complications or pain at all, other than when I pressed on my abdomen. I filled my post op pain meds, maybe took 4 of them, and the rest are sitting in my cupboard, I just didn't need them. I was really worried about hair loss because while my hair looks thick, if you get it wet, it deflates to pretty much nothing. My thyroid has always reeked havoc on my hair as well, with it continually getting thick, then then, then thick.... I am 4.5month post op now, and still have not had any hair loss, except the normal amount I have always had in the shower. I did take biotin, but haven't taken that in awhile & still no hair loss. I also have not experienced dumping syndrome, and I have eaten my fair share of sugar post op. The worst thing I get is feeling uncomfortable enough where I have to lie down for 30 minutes, after eating something I shouldn't. Perhaps I've just been lucky, but from the start I kept telling myself I wouldn't experience all those issues, and my body followed suit. The mind is a powerful thing, if you tell it something is going to happen, it will happen. AT least that has always worked for me.

Awesome. Thanks for sharing! I’m gonna go pick some up. Yes I’m also worried about hair loss I have tons of hair and I would like to try and avoid losing any as much as possible. Aww thank you! I’ll be rooting for you on your day as well. Excited to have someone to share a similar time line with! I’ll be checking up with you if that’s okay.

I was "interviewing" a friend of a friend via email about her experiences with RNY (she and her husband both had it) because I only know one person who's had it who is alive and well (and I hadn't yet discovered these forums). This lady was a very matter-of-fact 50-ish woman who basically said "why on earth are you worried about THAT?" to every question I asked about possible side effects. She and hubby had no side effects. She has very thick hair, and when I said I was worried about hair loss she asked why! I told her it was a common side effect, and she says nope, neither one lost their hair. She didn't even know it could happen. Her guess was it was because they were very adherent to the nutritional requirements. After reading endless accounts of winning and losing the hair loss games, my guess is that they won some genetic lottery.

some people lose a lot, some people don't lose any, most of us are somewhere in the middle. Unfortunately, there's not a lot you can do about, but fortunately, it's temporary and it grows back. I did some light "shedding" for about three months. No one would have noticed it but me. Even for those who lose a lot of hair, most say they're the only ones who notice. It's kind of uncommon for it to fall out in chunks (like with people on chemo). It happens, but again, that seems to be pretty unusual. I worried about hair loss and excess skin *incessantly* before surgery. In retrospect, I can't believe I wasted even one brain cell worrying about them. My life is SO MUCH BETTER now that I don't weigh over 300 lbs. I would take my loose skin any day over weighing 373 lbs again. ANY FREAKING DAY!!!

I've been worried about hair loss. For the last year or so I've been taking a massive amount of biotin every day, but I didn't think about preventative Rogaine. Thank you for sharing!

Hello! This is my first time posting to this site, so first off, hello! A little about me...I am 37 years old and a mother to one 3 year old and a 8 year old step son. I am a teacher, although I work at a virtual school so I am pretty sedentary during the day. Ten years ago I topped out at 269 pounds, with a height of 5 feet, 6 inches. I went to a bariatric weight loss seminar but never pursued it any further. A few months later I started jogging (I have been an athlete all of my life but the weight spiraled after I stopped playing college soccer). I wasn’t a fan of jogging when I was younger, but I fell in love with it. I dropped 80 pounds and kept it off for years. Throughout those years I began to have knee pain. To make a long story short, doctor after doctor told me that if I lost weight, my knee would feel better. Finally, after about 5 years of this and several doctors, a new doctor finally ordered an MRI. Sadly, my knee had been injured years prior and the damage at that point was too severe to be fixed. Cartilage had been torn and as a result of not getting fixed, it continued to pretty much shred. In June of 2016, I had a total knee replacement at 36 years old. Now I have gained 30 more pounds and I am weighing in at 235 pounds. With a BMI of 37.5 and severe arthritis and joint disease, I am starting the process for gastric sleeve. I have two main concerns. 1. My goal weight is 150 (I have been a heavy weight lifter for years, so I weigh more than what I appear to.) I worry that I will lose more weight than I want to, and start to look sickly. I am assuming that you can increase your calories to maintenance when your body is ready, but this is one conversation I want to have with the doctor. 2. I am worried about hair loss. I did a medically supervised weight loss program (phentermine) for a long time a couple of years ago (when it was becoming more difficult to run and my weight was creeping up), and I noticed an increase in shedding a few months after that. My hair is very fine, so it won’t take much for me to look bald. I am sure I have will a million other questions, but this is where I am today. I go in for a referral next Wednesday, so I am months out of actually doing anything. I just feel the more research and preparation, the better off I will be.

I'm not worried about hair loss. I wear my hair natural but I'm also not opposed to braids nor weaves. Ijs. I take a weave over the weight any day. My date is August 22 but I'm trying to get an earlier date.

Thanks Lisa and good luck. I am 4 and s half weeks post surgery now and all is good. Had my first non drinking night out last week and it was not bad at all although I do want to enjoy a drink in the future. I am still worried about hair loss. I was told to keep the protein up to 60 grams to mitigate this but it's hard to do and I was also told that if it's going to happen there is little can be done to prevent it. I have invested in some nourkrin but I don't think it will have any impact. I am however on a multitude of tablets including forceval so hopefully, any loss will be minimal X