Has anyone actually avoided the hair loss? I will be doing the same, taking biotin & trying my best to get the protein in. But I haven't actually heard anyone say they didn't loose their hair.

That's a terrific question!! Anyone????

I am only 4 weeks post-op, and no hair-loss yet! I wasn't told to take biotin, and hair-loss was never mentioned to me prior to the surgery!

It is pretty much impossible to avoid hair loss - that is IF you experience it.

The trauma of surgery and the sudden elimination of caloric intake especially Protein often put the hair to sleep called the telogen stage, a stage ALL hairs enter - put usually just some of them at a time. The shock MAY put a lot more of the follicles in the telogen stage and cause MORE hair loss then usual. Only time, healing of the surgical site and replenishment of protein can halt or reverse the hair loss.

Read more about stages of hair growth here: https://secure.wikim...ollicle_cycling

My hair grows so fast and thick will look forward to not cutting it every 4 weeks.

pat

Has anyone actually avoided the hair loss? I will be doing the same, taking Biotin & trying my best to get the Protein in. But I haven't actually heard anyone say they didn't loose their hair.

I was told to take zinc with the biotin, but I did lose alot of hair starting @ 2 months out. I was told if you got your protein in it wouldn't come out but that was wrong. I lost 1/4 of the volume and it lasted 4 months. It didn't come out n clumps just thinned out. It was worth it! Good Luck~

While I can not speak for everyone - I am now loosing hair.at 4 1/2 months out...well hair is thinning dramatically yet does not come out in clumps. Used to say "I have too much hair" My hairdresser used say the same thing. My ponytails were thick. Now, I pick hair off of my clothes constantly, out of the dryer lint trap, washing machine, furniture, shower, sink, and hairbrush. I took the Biotin, zinc, 70 gm of protien daily, even pre surgery. No luck avoiding hair loss from what I have read on this board.

BUT - I love my sleeve and have no regrets. A little hair gone a very small price.

I lose it like crazy

tomorrow I am starting Biotin... and hope that helps some new growth for all i'm losing!

I'm the same as Legal. I'll be 5 months out the 16th, and I've had some shedding, but it has never come out in clumps.

Not quite 4 months out and I've been taking Biotin since a month before surgery, so far it is thinning. I pick hair off my clothes a few times a day and have to clean my brush more often. I do think the Biotin is helping...a couple of months after starting it my hair grew pretty long and my nails got wicked long! (You can click on my blog in my signature and see some pictures of the hair and nails.) I just recently had my hair cut and my hairdresser agreed that it was thinning slightly, but not bad yet. So here's hoping that I don't lose a ton. She gave me a cut that gives the appearance of more volume.

Last night I dreamed that I looked down and my shower was full of hair!! EEEEEEK! My hair is thin already so any hair loss is worrisome. Now that my face is getting smaller - I think I'll be more comfortable with a shorter hair cut. Who knows - maybe I'll have some wave to the new stuff - I've had straight hair all my life.

We just have to embrace these new adventures - the alternative is to be unhealthy and unhappy.

I'm in the same boat as what iegal posted. I'm 6mo. out on the 18th and still losing hair everywhere. I take biotin and I do see new growth.

A friend of mine that recently had RNY was told to try silica in addition to biotin. I've read some reviews....some are promising and some sound like snake oil. But, I may try it since I've got pretty thin hair to begin with......

No luck here. I started losing hair about 2-3 months ago.. and I mean by the clumps. My scalp has already begun to show somewhat; something I'm definitely not happy about. I used to have long, curly hair. Now, it's just curly. I can't say I regret my surgery but this dramatic hair loss has caused me some emotional stress. I went from taking Biotin and am, at the moment, taking two other hair pills every morning to try and correct this problem. Unfortunately, there's been no change. I try not to brush my hair and I'm scared of washing it even more. My best guess is that I'll be wearing a wig by the time summer rolls around. Ugh!

Butrcups, I doubt it will come to wearing a wig. If it's not coming out in clumps then it's probably just what I discussed above.

remember we are ALWAYS loosing hair, it a situation like this we loose more and it becomes noticeable. Hair doesn't reach a certain length and stop growing, it reaches a certain TIME and stops growing, falls out and is soon replaced with a new shoot from the same follicle.

Well.....I can top everyone in that I am almost 4 years out from my sleeve and my hair has never been the same, no matter what I've tried..... I got all of my Protein, took Biotin, etc. and I lose way more hair than I did prior to surgery. It is worth it of course. I never had a big, thick head of hair so now I have to wear it short. What no one seems to ever mention is that fat produces estrogen and by losing alot of weight your body is producing much less estorgen naturally and hormonal changes can cause hair loss as well. I don't know if it is directly related or not but I would bet on it. I had a full hysterectomy at 38 and for several years was overweight and never had one night sweat until I got thin....