I'm 3 weeks out and wondering how bad my hair loss is going to be. Am I going to be slightly bald, very bald or totally bald?? Did anyone wear hair-pieces or wigs? Any other tips for getting through this phase?

The hair loss can be non-existent to fairly severe. And contrary to what almost everyone else says it cannot be prevented and NO supplement you take will really help.

Hair growth has 2 phases, growth and rest. This is programmed into our cells. Excessive hair loss after WLS (or ANY surgery for that matter) is caused by the hair entering the rest phase and not emerging very quickly back to the growth phase. The body is coping with the injury (surgery), the healing process and the massive curb of caloric intake and putting unimportant stuff like hair and nail growth on hold. After a while it settles down and growth again starts as the metabolism picks back up and the "warning sirens" stop blaring telling your body it is starving.

I am sure many on this site will refute the above but the fact of the matter is it will happen or not happen depending on how your body reacts to the trauma. I had very little, but then again I'm a 50+ YO male that was already losing my hair so I am not sure if any MORE happened and whether it was caused by the surgery or just the natural progression of my previous hair loss.

You can take supplements but I sincerely believe they are a total waste of money and may even be detrimental.

I had MASSIVE hair loss @ the 3-4 month mark. I do take 5000 mg of Biotin twice daily. My hairloss has went from uber hand fulls to just barely enough to cover the drain in the shower. I do have acrlyic nails and my nail tech has noticed that my nails under the acrylics has grown faster in the two week time frame that I go to see her. I also use Nutri-Ox shampoo and conditioner every other day. Do not know if my hair is now out of the "resting phase" or not. I do see new growth all over but mainly at my temples. I am not selling the biotin or the shampoo and conditioner just sharing what I use. Some experience no change when using any supplement or shampoo's. Other's swear by their routine and what they use. Good Luck!!!!

Deb

I think it depends on the weight loss. If you are loosing large amonts of weight then it will be more extreme than if you are loosing steadily.

I am losing steadily and not really super fast, so mine is coming out, but only like 15-20 hairs a day. I only notice it when I brush in the morning after washing my hair. It is gross, but not as extreme as I thought it would be.

I know that it will stop when my weight loss stops and I am fine with it. I do not have patches of lost hair or anything. Nobody will notice that your hair is gone!! Only you will know!

Kelly

thank you for that update on hair loss, I found it very interesting. I am five months out and my hair starting falling out right at the four month date. It seems to be slowing a bit now. I totally agree with the supplements being a waste of money. I have tried to cut back on washing my hair and started using WEN which I can can go 4 days in between washing and I believe it helps. I have read that it should start regrowing after about 4-6 weeks so I am ready.

To answer your question I have lost alot of hair at least I think so, but I have asked my husband and he doesn't see much difference. I might go and get my hair cut shorter just so that when it does start growing again it will look better. It just seems very flat right now but I have tried not to blow dry it or curl it lately don't want to damage what I have left. I don't really care too much about the thinning hair, I know it will grow back. Just have to grin and bear it and focus on all the positives like buying a pair of size 6 jeans and zipping them up with no problem, now that I can live with anyday!!!!!

I'm only a month out so I haven't had any hair loss yet, but I'm not too freaked out by the prospect of it happening (if it does). I have a TON of hair so I can probably afford to lose some. I'm not going to take biotin because I hear it promotes hair growth everywhere, and I already spend enough money on waxing at the salon!

The hair loss can be non-existent to fairly severe. And contrary to what almost everyone else says it cannot be prevented and NO supplement you take will really help.

Hair growth has 2 phases, growth and rest. This is programmed into our cells. Excessive hair loss after WLS (or ANY surgery for that matter) is caused by the hair entering the rest phase and not emerging very quickly back to the growth phase. The body is coping with the injury (surgery), the healing process and the massive curb of caloric intake and putting unimportant stuff like hair and nail growth on hold. After a while it settles down and growth again starts as the metabolism picks back up and the "warning sirens" stop blaring telling your body it is starving.

I am sure many on this site will refute the above but the fact of the matter is it will happen or not happen depending on how your body reacts to the trauma. I had very little, but then again I'm a 50+ YO male that was already losing my hair so I am not sure if any MORE happened and whether it was caused by the surgery or just the natural progression of my previous hair loss.

You can take supplements but I sincerely believe they are a total waste of money and may even be detrimental.

I think there's a big difference between believing Biotin helps make hair grow or believing that a biotin deficiency causes hair to fall out. Our program told us biotin deficiency causes hair and nails to be weak. In the first 3 months after this surgery a lot of folks are taking less than 600 calories a day on average and that creates an opportunity for all kinds of deficiencies. The biotin I bought was about $4 for the bottle. I think I'll take that financial loss since I don't think I need any help with my thinning hair.

No wigs or hairpieces and I'm not bald, but I had really thick hair and now it's thin. I had a hat that used to sit mid-forehead and now it sits on my eyebrows because my head circumference is smaller due to hairloss. No one has said anything, so I think it's unnoticeable to anyone but me and my hair stylist. It's growing back in now, but I still get a good handful out of the shower strainer each week. Lost my hair but kept my boobs! That's a fair trade, I'd say.

I was losing a lot of hair before my sleeve surgery, not sure why. Just aging, maybe vitamin deficient due to lack of things in my diet. I didn't eat very healthy. I started taking Biotin, because I knew hair loss was common with this surgery and I wanted to see if I could see a difference. I had a lot of regrowth after taking it a short while. So while I can't say whether it will prevent hair loss, I know from experience and FOR ME it definitely helped me with some regrowth before surgery. So I am willing to spend the $4-$5 to see if it will help me with regrowth. Maybe it will make up for some that I lose. Worse case scenario, I have very very hairy legs lol.

Thanks everyone! I have a lot of hair but it is extremely fine and very straight - so no body at all. I guess I'll have to weather this one like everyone else, it will definitely have been worth it in any event!

I took 5,000 mg of Biotin twice daily and still lost half my hair. I also got in all my Protein from day one.

It's growing back, but I still have very thin hair now, and I used to have very thick hair.

No wigs or hairpieces and I'm not bald, but I had really thick hair and now it's thin. I had a hat that used to sit mid-forehead and now it sits on my eyebrows because my head circumference is smaller due to hairloss. No one has said anything, so I think it's unnoticeable to anyone but me and my hair stylist. It's growing back in now, but I still get a good handful out of the shower strainer each week. Lost my hair but kept my boobs! That's a fair trade, I'd say.

lol!

Wouldn't it be great if we could bargain on this stuff! I'd give a cup size for the hair that's departed my temple area. On the up side, since I've also kept my boobs, I doubt too many men notice the thinning hair at my temples.

No wigs or hairpieces and I'm not bald, but I had really thick hair and now it's thin. I had a hat that used to sit mid-forehead and now it sits on my eyebrows because my head circumference is smaller due to hairloss. No one has said anything, so I think it's unnoticeable to anyone but me and my hair stylist. It's growing back in now, but I still get a good handful out of the shower strainer each week. Lost my hair but kept my boobs! That's a fair trade, I'd say.

You had thick hair AND boobs to start with?? OK, time for me to unfriend you then!

:laugh0: :laugh0: :laugh0: Unfortunately, the boobs blended into the belly for a long time, giving me the oh-so-desirable "shelf" look.