Hello All!

I've been looking through the forums, I may have missed a thread on hair loss so if I'm being redundant I apologize...

It started this weekend, huge amounts of my hair (ok seems like a HUGE amount but it covers the hair brush so much you cant see the bristles) are falling out. Needless to say I am freaking out! I know this is expected with weight loss surgery, I thought more so with gastric bipass, and was one of my main reasons for choosing lap-band over bipass. If someone asked me if I would rather have a fat ass and beautiful hair, or bald and a small ass I would have said "fat ass please!"

If this has happened to others, when did it stop? Does it grow back?

I'm very much in the beginning of this journey with the band and being so good with my Vitamins and Protein intake, so what the heck is going on?

Thanks so much for any advice.

Soon to be not so sexy bald Gina. :omg:

O.K....so I'll ask this again......what do the doctors have to tell someone who made 100% sure that they consumed more than enough protein???? What about the fact that I saw a dermo, an endocrenologist, a nutrition counselor, and a palm reader. Took supplements, ate right, slept tight, and did whatever I was told?

My hair fell out....it grew back....I still shed like a cat....I have lint rollers in my room, in my car, in my office, at my boyfriends, at my friends house, and one in my gym bag.

Urgh!:faint:

I do not believe all the mumbo jumbo about not enough protein---I lost hair like this while on Atkins, and all I ate was protein!!! I have kept my protein intake up this time around as well, so it helped me heal, and control my hunger---din't make a difference, it is falling out like crazy! It has a name, I just can't remember it---it is the bodies reaction to the stress of surgery, anesthetic, sudden weight loss, and diet change. Most have said theirs finally stopped, and grew back just fine, once the body decides it is surviving just fine as is! Of course mine will be stubborn, and take forever to realize that!!!!

Kat

Kat817.

great response. I am with you. Ps. Absolutely love the phrase at the end of your comment about the eraser. I needed that. Have a great weekend. Jules

I asked my friend at work today if she lost any hair and she said nope, she looked at me strange for even asking her!

I told her how i was reading it on this forum and it seemed pretty common that people lost their hair.. Though she has not lost any.

I hope i don't either.

My hair started shedding about 4 months post-op. My surgeon said "lack of protein", but upping my protein didn't help. Neither did Biotin. So I asked my PCP. He checked my thyroid. It was fine. Then I consulted a Dermatologist. He said he sees a lot of this with WLS patients. It's the weight loss, he said. Give it a year. It might grow back. Then again, it might not.

It's been 2 years and my hair isn't shedding like it was, but it hasn't all come back, either. Some people don't lose any hair, though. Or at least they don't notice it. My Dermatoligist said you can lose a LOT before you even realize it.

I'm soooo very glad to read this thread!! I posted my dilemma on the general discussion board and got not a single reply!! I thought I was safe too because I had my surgery in August, but suddenly I'm shedding more than my golden retriever! I bought Nioxin Friday, so hopefully I'll see a difference! Thanks to you all who responded here!!!

I am almost 9 months out now, and it is only getting worse. I have less than 1/4 of the hair I used to have. I have cut it shorter---and looks like I will be going even shorter. Although that does nothing for my scalp showing on the crown of my head----I think it is time to shop for a wig. Nothing seems to be helping. I have upped my caloric intake, and and concentrated on a healthy diet...watched the almighty protein, used the nioxin, taken they bioten----and I am still going bald. Too bad I don't have a pretty shaped head.

I will lay odds that within a month someone asks me if my cancer has recurred....the lack of hair, and weight loss---it's what I would have thought of someone else. So while it depresses me to no end losing my hair, it could for a fact be worse! I survived bald before and by damned I will do it again!

Kat

I bet you will be o.k. I haven't heard of anyone going bald for ever! Even people who get alopecia (?) grow hair back. Remember Princess Caroline of Monaco? She has beautiful hair once again.

They do make cute wigs these days and short cuts can be good.

My revision surgery is this week and I fully anticipate losing my hair again.

I think I will look forward to losing weight again and try not to focus on my balding. EASIER SAID THAN DONE!!! :phanvan

I am doing my best to keep a positive attitude, I figure I can buy a wig and cover it up----I could not buy a skinny suit to cover up the fat!

Kat

MEN,What about facial hair?I have a beard since the 70's and it hands about to my belly button.I'm a man and would hate to loose my beard.MIKE

MEN,What about facial hair?I have a beard since the 70's and it hands about to my belly button.I'm a man and would hate to loose my beard.MIKE

Men either complain less about hair loss, or they just don't experience it as often as women. Could be because estrogen is stored in fat cells and when women lose the fat, we lose our stockpile of estrogen.

Ms Vicki.....about the nettle tea, do you drink it or just apply it directly to the scalp?? Dreamer

Ok Im 4 months out now- took the biotin as preventative, my tsh is 1, get 60gm protein most days- My hair doesnt care!! It is falling out by handfulls daily!! Ive been using nioxin shampoo a week or so. Im not losing weight fast like everyone else- Im not sure what the actual cause is. There doesnt seem to be one identifiable factor- certainly NOT rapid weight loss as the cause in my case (18 # in 4 months). So I get to have mousey thin hair and be a fat ass!! How fair is that! :scared:

Here's hoping something changes in the next few weeks- dropping 10-15 pounds or hair regrowth.

Gonnabethin, let it run it's course. I've taken a few things and I found that it will just come out till it's finished the cycle. I'm sorry but hold tight, buy bandanas and hats or even hair pieces and wigs. It will stop eventually. All of the above worked for me.

THANK YOU TELLY!!!!!! I appreciate hearing from you. Ive closely watched your journey.