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Hi...thanks for responding. I am currently on a puree diet for the next 3 weeks. Even a puree diet when I swallow it hurts and I can only eat about 4-5 bites of anything. I am afraid because I just can not get the protein in and I am already starting to worry about hair loss if I do not get enough protein! I know it will get better, but it is quite the challenge eating right now!

So I'm somewhat consumed with the possibility of hair loss after banding. I already have some thinning and take Biotin 1000mcg each day along with other supplements. Due to the hair thinning, I have had a variety of lab test that have all been negative. My GP says that it's just hereditary and to keep taking Vitamins. I have had weight problems most of my life. I have been losing the same 25 to 30 lbs for the last 10 years. I have been trying to do some research while waiting on insurance approval for Lap-band® Surgery. I am 42, female with a BMI of 35 and I have high blood pressure. I would appreciate any recommendations. Also, does anyone know the percentage of those that have hair loss after banding? Thanks

I was worried about hair loss before I had my surgery. Not long after my surgery, I talked to my cosmetologist about it. Before surgery, I had very thick hair. I started noticing excessive loss when I was about 3 months out from surgery. To be proactive, I talked to my stylist about the best cut to minimize hair loss (or the appearance of it). I normally get my hair thinned, but I stopped that for a while too. I also quit coloring my hair for about the first 10 months. I didn't want to weaken anything further than surgery already did. I cut back on how often I washed my hair (every other day instead of daily), and I took Biotin and listened to my stylist. My stylist was also able to recommend products that would help. I was glad I talked to her and teamed up with her on the issue. She was also able to reassure me that my loss wasn't drastic.

I am worried about hair loss as well. When I lost a bunch of weight in High School my this locks thinned significantly and never really recovered. But then I found out I had Hypothyroidism, and more hair fell out. I can't afford to lose much more. You guys mentioned some products to help. What are these and how do I get them. Should I ask my doc for a perscription?

I'm almost four months post op. I have thin hair and was worried about hair loss. I've been using Nioxin shampoo and conditioner since I had the surgery and have had no hair loss. Getting in protein helps too!

I haven't had surgery yet, but am beginning to really worry about hair loss. I have seen women out in the community, and I don't know for a fact, but think they have had wls. I have seen their scalps through the sparse hair. Does this happen to everyone? :biggrin0:

@, thank you for responding! Thanks for the laugh, I needed that...you are right weighing less is far better than worrying about hair loss. I see you have loss a great amount of weight, would you say it is attributed to your daily dietary intake and excersize? I seem to be at a bit of a stall and was wondering what I am doing wrong, since I imagined, I too, would have lost much more weight. To date Ilve lost 50lbs since surgery and 58lbs since starting on my journey. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

You looks fabulous, what an amazing transformation. Can I ask you about eating out. When do you start eating regular food. I am so worried I will become anti social and will never be able to go out to dinner with friends. And also worried about hair loss, how long before your hair goes back to normal?

Scars don't bug me, but I totally worry about hair loss. Hair is the only normal thing I have!

There's a good chance it's just me, but I imagine others have felt the same way. I'm worried a out scarring. I'm worried about loose skin. I'm worried about hair loss. Do you think that we, as obese/ former obese people are more vain than others? Do you think that our perceived failures pushed us further into obesity? Have our personal desires, realistic or not, led us down a path? Feeling philosophical.

My 2 week pre-op diet: Week 1 All the Water, tea and sugar free drinks you want All the chicken, beef or vegetable broth you want Protein shakes (2 a day, Breakfast and lunch) Sugar free Jello Sugar free popsicles dinner is lean, unbreaded meat on a bed of greens Week 2 The same as week 1 but dinner is replaced with a third Protein shake. Don't worry about hair loss. It's not permanent.

I had my WLS on April 19th of this year. I have lost a little hair, but nothing I can't hide. (Thank goodness, because I have thin hair to begin with) I was wondering if there is a safe time or a time that we can stop worrying about hair loss. As I approach my 6 mos. date, I'm getting hopeful that the worst of the hair loss my be over. Is this premature? Thanks for your imput.

Hi! My surgery is scheduled for the same date. I'm going through most of the same things as you. I plan to have my brother check in on me every afternoon. If we're up walking around soon after like everyone says, I'm sure we can take care of ourselves at home pretty well. Not worried about hair loss. My hair is thick, and worst case, I don't think I'd look too weird shaved bald. Glad to be a guy. I told my boss because I needed the time off. Mistake. He brought it up in performance evaluation. On the other hand, our HR benefits person has been wonderful and helped me navigate our insurance plans to get the best coverage possible. I haven't done any support groups either. I've also been doing the no sugar / low-carb / high protein thing since October. My brain hates me. I would trade my right arm for a bowl of pasta right now, but I'm not actually hungry. I've only recently learned the difference. I also am grieving food. We're both weird, I guess. Good luck! I wish you lots of success.

Hi Canyon and Miss Mac! I had my pre-op today and now sporting a new bracelet (red hospital band)! I asked about the CO2 when I met my anesthesiologist and he didn't seem at all worried about it. His response was that the gas will naturally leave the body through deep exhales and coughs. Hmm...not entirely convinced. In addition to the anesthesiologist, i had more blood work done (the amount of blood I've had taken from me related to this journey is probably enough to fill a hot tub!), had an EKG done (everything looks fine), and had a chest x-ray. Final step is an appointment with my GP for a full physical, and that's scheduled for Thursday. I'm worried about hair loss, so I think I'll check with my dietician about prevention. Maybe get her take on Biotin or alternatives. Re foods post- op, what's your take on sweet potato pureed for week 2?

I am 60 years old and weigh about 80 lbs more than I 2 ant to. I had trouble with my band sliding so we my do and I to have me do the bypass revision. I am doing good no problem getting enough protein or water, see the Dr Monday for 1 week check up. Little worried about hair loss. Anyone got ideas to prevent it

1) I bought the unjury Medical Protein powder chicken broth & Flavored for shakes. I know the full scoop calls for 8 oz of Water or Milk but how much should I make (what will i be able to drink in one sitting) in the beginning (Phase 1 & 2?) I don't want to waste! 2) I am worried about hair loss ( I am already pretty thin) Should I get and start the Vitamin regimn that i get from the doctor and start it now? I am 3 weeks 5 days out. 3) My surgery is November 3rd. I know its crazy but Thanksgiving is always at my house and will be no different this year except Im not cooking my dad and sister in law will do the cooking! I will just start soft mussy foods on the 25th (2 days before thanksgiving) What are some suggestions on things i could "enjoy" Mashed potatoes (is a little gravy ok?) let me know what worked for you in the beginning. 4) Is a recliner chair necessary to sleep in after surgery or is the bed comfortable? Thank You in Advance

I am a band-to-bypass revision patient, too! I have been using rogaine for a couple of years due to thin, fine hair and I was really worried about hair loss after surgery. I actually had a 2-part surgery because my band was removed a year ago last December and my bypass wasn't until April 2015. I had expected hair loss right around the time of my revision because it was 16 weeks post-op, which is when I lose my hair, but I didn't have much. After revision, however, at exactly 16 weeks I lost a lot of hair. I had been taking Biotin and using rogaine up to that point, and I do believe that it helped my hair come back much faster than it has in the past. Not only that, but it's now wavy! That was an unexpected perk! Honestly, that short period where I had "bad hair" was completely worth it, though. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Congratulations on taking back control of your health. You won't be disappointed.

I'm now 3 months out and I remember the first few weeks everything tasted awful and getting anything in was a struggle. I was especially worried about protein intake because I worried about hair loss. But it did pass, and things taste normal again. It's a phase and you will get through it. Just keep at it and do the best you can. Don't worry...it will get better I promise!

Hi All, I, too, am worried about hair loss. I will be banded in 2 weeks. I will make protien a priority but fear it won't matter. My doctor says getting the protien in will prevent the hair loss, but my cousin was banded and lost a lot of hair. How thin is your hair getting, if you are losing hair? How many people overall are losing hair?

I'm 2 and a half month post op, and I'm really worried about hair loss I've heard it normally happens at 3 months! Has any one experienced it?? And does anyone know of any thing you can take to make it slow down (I know it can't be stopped if you get it) but dont know if there is something to help it. Currently I am taking forceval, calichew, evening primrose oil and cod liver oil with A-Z vitamins on a daily basis! :-) x

Hi all. I'm new to this forum. I'm in the begining stages of the approval process. I have extreme worries about hair loss and some worries about saggy skin. I'vr heard protein protein protein but its seem even the people talking protein are experiencing major hair loss. Can anyone eveyone please help me with their stores and what they did. I have pcos so I've already experience hair thinning so I dont want the LAPBAND SURGERY to completely make me bald. If needed I'm african american 30yrs old starting weight 320. Also how do I start my WEIGHT LOSS TICKER?

Going to have LB surgery May 29, 07......Excited to get on with my new life! Just a little worried about hair loss and how to get enough protein in my diet.....any help would be appreciated, Jan:)

I worry about hair loss too.

If you’re putting off your weight loss surgery (WLS) because you’re worried about hair loss, you’re not alone! And if you were surprised when you suddenly started to lose your hair a few months post-op, you’re not the first WLS patient to be caught off guard. Here are a few facts on hair loss after weight loss surgery. It’s actually a condition called “telogen effluvium,” which happens when more of your hair is in the resting stage than the growth stage, so you end up losing hair faster than it grows. Telogen effluvium – and hair loss - can be triggered by stressful events like WLS and the WLS diet. It’s more common after gastric bypass and gastric sleeve surgeries than after the lap-band. Hair loss is most severe around 3 to 6 months post-op. It’s hard to predict who will lose their hair and who won’t after WLS. Also, there’s no fail-proof protection against hair loss. But there are a lot of promising strategies that work for some WLS patients that may work for you. The best part about them is that they’re also good for weight loss. Protein: 65 or More Grams Daily Protein is the foundation of your post-op WLS diet. It’s a nutrient that lets your surgery wounds heal. It also helps you maintain lean muscle mass as you lose weight. And when you get enough of it, it can help reduce hair loss. Lap-band patients need at least 65 grams of protein each day. Sleeve and bypass patients need 80 to 100 or more grams per day. Go lean with sources like tofu, chicken breast, tuna, egg whites, and non-fat yogurt and cottage cheese. If you can’t hit your needs with food, go for low-sugar protein shakes, protein powders, and protein bars. Water: Not an Afterthought Fluids aren’t always top on your mind when you’re worrying about your weight loss diet, but maybe they should be. When you choose calorie-free ones, they can help reduce hunger and lose more weight. Plus, water prevents dehydration and symptoms like headaches and fatigue. It also promotes healing and lets your body function - and that’s good news for your hair. Aim for at least 64 ounces per day of calorie-free fluids, such as water, flavored waters, diet sports drinks, and broth/bouillon. Feel free to go for more, though! Biotin and Silica: Ask Your Surgeon Biotin and silica are essential nutrients. You can usually get enough of them from diet alone, but WLS changes that. Some people swear that biotin and silica supplements can reduce hair loss, but the science doesn’t yet support that. Talk to your doctor before taking these supplements. Biotin is usually safe even in high doses, but too much silica can be a problem. Essential Fatty Acids: Fats Are Good! Fats are high-calorie, and they make many foods off limits: think fried foods, creamy foods, and fatty meats. But some fats are good, and they’re the ones that you’re most likely to be deficient in after WLS. The possible results? Scaly skin and…hair loss. You don’t need huge amounts of fats to stay healthy. You could see a difference just by getting a little more omega-3 fat in your diet. Once you’re into the mushies/pureed foods stage, you can get omega-3’s from pureed boneless salmon and canned tuna. Later, you can add walnuts and flaxseeds. If you’re not eating these foods, you might want to ask your doctor about a fish oil supplement. The Extras Why does hair fall out? Stress! So let’s see…what stresses have you already put on your body? There’s the stress of surgery; the stress of starving your body at least, that’s what your body thinks when you drop down to 1,000 calories a day; the stress of changing your entire lifestyle and possibly your relationships. When you think about all the stress in life, it’s a wonder anyone has any hair left at all! So when possible, try to reduce stress however you can. Get enough sleep. Take time for yourself. Exercise daily. Laugh it off…whatever “it” is, it’s probably not worth losing your hair over! Taking good care of yourself after WLS can help prevent hair loss, but not always. Still, you can take heart in the fact that it probably won’t last for more than a few months. And at the other end of those few months, you’ll be down several pounds. Isn’t a little hair loss worth it if the payback is to be healthy?

Hi Everyone! I've been lurking around here for awhile and I thought I would finally introduce myself. I've known about gastric banding for a long time and I've always thought it was a great option as far as WLS goes, but I've never considered it personally until a couple of months ago. Obesity runs in my family and I've been overweight my entire life. My highest weight as an adult was 236 lbs and my lowest adult weight was 179 lbs. Right now I weigh 210 lbs (I'm 5'3). In 2007 at age 21 I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer - I had surgery to remove one lobe of my thyroid that had a "suspicious" (biopsies had been inconclusive) tumor on it, then after they verified it was cancer they went back in a month later and removed the rest of my thyroid. Then after that I had a special kind of radiation treatment (called radioactive iodine, or I-131). I've had two 6 month follow-ups since my diagnosis and so far they haven't found any recurrent or residual cancer!! The type of thyroid cancer I had was slightly higher risk but my doctor says it still has about a 90% cure rate. It was pretty crappy to go through, but I'm so thankful to be recovered from everything. The whole diagnosis process and then eventual surgery/treatment was so stressful, I had lost about 50 lbs before I went through all that, and then gained it all back during the time I was sick, of course it didn't help at one point that I had no thyroid and they weren't giving me any medication because of the kind of radiation they gave me - at one point my TSH was 48 (normal level is about 0.40 - 4.0) - I could just look at food and gain weight! After I got better from being sick and got adjusted on the right thyroid medication I was able to lose about 35 lbs on my own through diet/exercise over the course of about a year, but in the last 8 months I've just been going up and down with my weight, really struggling. I have gained back about 10 lbs. I'm really discouraged - I just have been having a lot of trouble controlling my hunger. I finally realized that I may not be able to do this on my own. I think the lap band could really be the tool I need to get to a healthy weight. So luckily my health ins. co. covers lap band surgery! I have already been to the seminar, and I'm having my psych eval on Monday. I just need to go meet with the trainer and nutritionist and get my letter from my PCP and I'll be good to go. The insurance lady at my surgeon's office said my ins. co. is one of the easiest as far as approval goes and they don't require a 6 month diet so I'm super excited about that! I've already been through major surgery so that doesn't scare me, but I am worried about hair loss. I've never had super thick hair and when I was sick and went through all my surgery etc. I definitely had a lot of thinning going on with my hair - and I think it made me more paranoid about hair loss in general. I feel like I never grew back as much as I lost and so I don't have much to spare, but I know if I keep up my Protein and supplements that should help. My Mom always told me it wasn't noticable, but it's hard not to feel self conscious. As far as me, I'm 24, single and I live in central Florida, on the east coast. I work as a medical assistant for a cardiology practice and for the most part I love my job. I'm really want to get my weight under control now so that when I hopefully get married some day and have kids I'll be at a healthy weight and not still struggling with all this. My biggest goal is to be a cancer survivor and an obesity survivor! Anyway, I just want to see thanks for all the great advice and insight I've already received from you all! ~ Sarah -