Hey guys!

I'm considering the VSG, and I'm very concerned about hair loss. I have very thin hair already, and if it gets any thinner I will need a wig. I've seen that many people report hair loss as a side-effect of VSG, but I'm wondering what your experiences are with it? How much hair did you lose? When did you start losing hair? Was the hair loss long-lasting, or has the hair grown back?

Thanks for your time!!

-Lizzy

hair loss.....what an experience this was.

I was sleeved September 28th, 2009 by Dr. Aceves (wonderful man). To date I've lost 87 pounds and counting.....BUT the hairloss would have to be the biggest problem.

My hair started thinning in late November 2009 and by March 2010 I had lost about 1/2 my hair.....I have very fine hair but lots of it. I finally got it to stop by using NIOXIN shampoo, scalp conditioner and scalp therapy. It is now growing in and I have all these new little hairs all over my head. But at least it's growing again.

If you are worried about hair loss, BEFORE surgery, start using NIOXIN and continue using. This will lessen the loss.

Happy Sleeving from

Donna in Coarsegold

Donna, where do you get this Nioxin shampoo from? My hair is dropping at an incredible rate, my hubbie tells me i could have donated all the hair i've lost and had a wig made of it! silly man. . . but i do loose alot, i brush my hair 2 x per day and with each brushing comes a handful of hair, and i mean a wad of hair, not just a few strands here and there, long beautiful hair, wads of it. . . my braid is now the thickness of my thumb. . .:drool: oh well. . .sacrifices. . . I rather be thin anyhow. . . :mad0:

I have significant hair loss as well I started losing it at about 3mths out and for a while it was horrifying and very scary... lost tons in shower.. tons more when I'd brush.. didn't want to wash hair it was so bad.. it's slowed way down now but not only do I notice the difference in how much hair I lost the quality of my hair has changed.. much thinner and fragile feeling... I use Mane and Tail shampoo/ conditioner (available at Walmart in the animal area)... and that has extra protein in it.. on days I use that my hair is much fuller and I notice the loss less....... I don't think there is ONE thing that works for everyone but I am hopeful for new growth since I read about that quite a bit on the forums...... I am like others.. a risk to take that comes along with all the other benefits of surgery.... I can tell you this.. I feel so much better about myself.. mentally and physically I think the good out-weighs the bad.. that being said... losing hair is emotional.... it's a journey this VSG life..before, and after.

Hmm about the hair loss with anesthesia,

I havent had the sleeve yet but I have been unfortunate enough to have had three surgeries this past year, pretty evenly spaced out, and I havent noticed any excessive hair loss. I guess the one that is most similar to sleeve was getting my gallbladder out. I'm hoping and praying I'll be lucky to not lose much! I did lose a TON after having my baby, and after being diagnosed with hypothyroidism, but the only reason anyone noticed was because I shed all over the place:'(

I think hair loss for me has been my biggest fear. I started taking prenatal vitamins, and biotin as soon as I found out I was approved for my surgery I slacked off once I hit the six month mark, and still was not approved by my surgeon, but now that I have my date, I guess I better start back up on them. My hair already hardly grows because of meds I'm on. So I tell my friends its either I be overweight with hair, or a healthy weight and bald. I will take the healthy weight and bald. If I have to I will go buy a wig. Really I don't know which would be worse, but at least if I'm a healthy size I will be able to do things I haven't been able to do in years even without hair.

I am new to the board and haven't had a vsg yet, and one of the main reasons is the hair loss. I know it's vanity maybe, or some psychological issue, but my since my hair has been falling out in mass for the past year (since my divorce) I just dread the thought of losing more. For 20 years I have been overweight, and the one thing I heard from everyone is that my hair was so pretty, everyone wished they had my hair. Now even *I don't have my hair. I know in relations to feeling great and losing the weight, the hair loss is minor, but it's still very hard to think about. If I lose more, I will have serious bald spots. I'm trying the suggestions I've received (including taking Biotin supplements) to see if that helps improve my already severe hair loss. But I want the sleeve so badly, and I think it's going to be a must. My health and mobility are deteriorating very quickly (due to obesity) and I think the benefits will outweigh (no pun intended) the side affects in the long run.

Thank you all for being so informative here!

K

I have tons of hair and really didn't worry about hair loss at all - I figured I had plenty even if I lost some. Now, I am 18 or 19 weeks out from my VSG, I am freaking out because of my hair loss! I am shedding all over the place. I play with my hair a lot and just get tons of strands as I run my fingers through it, in the shower, if I brush my hair. Not just all-over thinning, but my hairline at the very front has a small bald patch! Well not bald, it's got short stumpy hairs but ew. I can put my fringe over it so others don't notice, but I find it traumatic!!

I have always eaten my Vitamins (Multivitamin plus extra vit D) and Protein. I am just hanging my hopes on the hair loss being temporary.

I have tons of hair and really didn't worry about hair loss at all - I figured I had plenty even if I lost some. Now, I am 18 or 19 weeks out from my VSG, I am freaking out because of my hair loss! I am shedding all over the place. I play with my hair a lot and just get tons of strands as I run my fingers through it, in the shower, if I brush my hair. Not just all-over thinning, but my hairline at the very front has a small bald patch! Well not bald, it's got short stumpy hairs but ew. I can put my fringe over it so others don't notice, but I find it traumatic!!

I have always eaten my Vitamins (multivitamin plus extra vit D) and Protein. I am just hanging my hopes on the hair loss being temporary.

It is temporary, and you'll get new growth coming in. I know how traumatic it seems, but it is temporary. I promise hair grows back! ! !

I had breast cancer and lost all of my hair so I can sympathize. It was horrible at first. After all of my chemo my hair grew back totally different, so I had to learn to deal with that. Time goes by faster than you think and those are small sacrifices. I know it is tough. I cried alot, but as time went on, I started taking off my wigs and didn't care. What matters is that you are healthy and the people you love care about you. Wearing wigs or hats arent that bad. At least until your hair starts being normal again.

I am excited about my vsg and really don't want to lose my hair again, but I will accept it graciously if it means losing weight.

Buttt...... I will be taking vitamins and doing all I can to prevent it.

i lost A LOT of hair between 3 and 6 months and then it slowed down dramatically. I have 2 inch long hair growth allllll over my head now and am thinking of cutting my hair really short since the rest of it is really thin. i hate looking at my christmas pictures (6 months post op) because my hair was so thin and you could see my scalp but it is soooo much better now.