I have had horrible hormonal issues most of my life. My hair has been thinning since age 17. I'm 30 now. I am 14 weeks out from surgery and am losing what little hair I had at an alarming rate. To top it off my thyroid has decided to spaz out, so you guessed it....more hair loss!!! I am 30 and nearly bald. It's depressing me. Have any of you had to get a hairpiece? Do you have a brand you would recommend? Has anyone had extensions? I knew this would happen but I prayed I would be one of the lucky ones who would dodge the hair loss bullet. Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated ...

Two alternatives exist - get a hair piece of quality, depending on the size the price will vary. Of course if you live in a large metropolitan area you should find a good place through internet searching. I have one lined up in Los Angeles just in case.

The second is shave it off, some women like bald men.

I know this may sound odd, but I would contact some breast cancer support organizations and ask them what their patients who wear wigs have to say about style, cost, natural feel, and comfort of wear. My Mom had a wig that looked a lot better than her own hair ever did. I'm getting sleeved in the morning and I will get a wig if needed - I have plenty of hair, but have had some of the problems you mention. I used to tell one of my former employees that her hair was so cute. It was a short and sassy style - cute, cute, cute! I loved it. She finally told me that she was wearing a wig due to cancer treatments she had. I didn't have a clue.

Please let us know what you find out in your research.

Please forgive me, but my computer does not like this forum's new format. I cannot read the profile names of any posters. My reply was intended for a woman (obviously). If this is not the case, I'm going to blame my lapse on the starvation mode I feel today - the day before surgery. Yikes!

The person who posted some women like bald men is so right!

Ummm I'm not a man lol! Thanks for the suggestions. I will let you know what I find out.

Thank you! That honestly made me feel a lot better. I guess I.shouldnt be ashamed of a wig. I should be happy they make such great ones!

meggs, I'm about 2.5 months out and started taking Biotin at 2 months out. I also have read from several people here about their use of hair extension (Sleeve 4 Me uses them, I believe). I spent an hour in Sally Beauty Supply last night looking at the hair extensions and hair pieces and I've been exploring the internet looking at wigs.

I've decided that, if I develop a bald spot, I'm buying a dolly parton-look wig! I'm gonna buy the biggest, trampiest looking hair I can find and wear it every day and enjoy the heck out of it! I haven't had long hair since I was 16 and I miss it. I had the true Farrah Fawcett look, with feathered hair and curls. If I have to deal with a wig, I'm gonna do it in style! Besides, it's so different from what I've been doing, that I'm sure it will be a blast. I'll post pics if I go that route.

My mom had a really cute wig that she wore when her hair fell out due to cancer. She was always really into her hair, but she said the wig was much easier to style because she could put it on the stand and do it instead of trying to do the back of her hair in the mirror. There ARE benefits to wearing a wig.

I'll be following this topic. Maybe someone who has lots of experience will chime in with better info?

This is one thing I have truly worried about. I do not cut my hair because of religious convictions. It has been 25 years since the last time it was cut and currently it reaches almost to the bends of my knees. Although I have not had my surgery yet, I might be able to help you out though. Because of injuries to my arms and shoulders, I got to the point that I was no longer able to hold my arms up long enough to put my hair up in the fancy hair styles and curls that I used to. A friend turned me on to Paula Young. I buy clip-ons (of course they sell wigs [Human and synthetic]) from them and people have a fit over my hair all the time. It is not uncommon at all for me to have a perfect stranger stop me just so they can look at my hair. It matches so well, they never even figure out part of it is not even mine. You might want to check them out. They are very reasonable and you can shop online or by catalogue. Good luck, I hope it gets better for you soon.

Funny that you should post this today. I spent almost four hours on the internet this afternoon looking at wig options. I finally purchased one too! I hope I like it. It should be here in three or four days.

I am five months post op this week, and noticed (REALLY noticed) that I was loosing hair about 4-6 weeks ago. I went to see a physician and had some blood work done, I was so concerned, and all my blood work was normal. She said it was probably from the fast weight loss. (I have lost 90 pounds so far in the five months since surgery.)

About four weeks ago I switched to Nioxin Shampoo and hair treatment. Also am using Minoxidil hair treatment. But doesn't seem to be helping. Maybe I haven't been using long enought to notice a difference.

Anyway, Today, after I showered and was drying my hair and putting on my make up I just couldn't believe how bald I looked! It seems like the hair loss is accelerating instead of getting less. So I decided that I was going to invest in a wig. I bought a Human Hair Raquel Welch wig. It is a short style. And I tried to match it very closely to my current color. (I have colored my hair for years. I am NOT going into old age gracefully!)

Will let you all know when it arrives how I like it.

Oh Megs, I am really feeling for you!

My hair went really thin - it has always been fine, like you - after my surgery... and it hasn't really recovered now, at 16+mths post op. I have recently had it cut really short, trying to hide how fine it looks! I think it hasn't grown back due to hormones too... and you are soooo right. It is depressing!

Hope you find a solution, be it wig or whatever, that makes you feel more confident and happy. Hugs

This is really getting to me too. My problem with wigs is that none of them seem to fit my huge head. I could only really have the confidence to wear one if it looked just like my own hair, I wouldn't want anyone at work to question if I had a wig on. I have started to use dermmatch, and it does really help it look normal, I hate to have to use it, but at least that is a good option. I so wish I had a good face for baldness. Sinead looks great now she has gone back to shaving her head, if I could get away with that, I would do it. I'm hoping it at least stops falling out.

I love my clip on hair extensions! They are awesome! Put them on in the a.m. and take them off in the p.m., I really don't need them anymore but I love how thick they make my hair feel. A lot of people on t.v. wear them and you wouldn't even know it

p.s. they don't ruin your hair either...

Hair loss can be from the lack of protein. If your not getting enough in, you will lose your hair. Start there. My hair started falling out on the edges and back when i hit 3 months! It is alarming! I am now working on getting in at least 60-80grams of protein a day. I also take biotin every day. Biotin will not stop the hair loss but proper protein will. I strongly suggest consulting with your dr for a plan just for you. It could be other reasons for the hair loss. Hope this helps.

Well, I have stepped up my protein, vitamin and biotin intake, but nothing seems to be making a difference so far. BUT, my wig arrived, and I love it. It looks so natural! Check out Headcovers Unlimited.com. They have TONS of wigs and hair pieces and are SO great about talking to you on the phone if you have ??? or concerns. I love the wig I got from them, and am not embarassed at all to wear it anywhere. I was hesitant at first, but had so many compliments on it that I thought "what the heck? it looks great, I'm going to go with it."

I have gotten a minimum of 70 grams of protein since week two and it made no difference- I started losing hair big time around three months out and though it has slowed the average seems to be losing until 8-10 months out and then slow regrowth. I had thin hair already and now it is pathetic. It is so funny- I look at my before photos and though of course I do not miss being that weight I also always notice how much better my hair looked! It does NOT help that I am in the pool five days a week. Oh well, if I go bald at least I will be skinny and bald!

Oki. I am also a person who has dealt with hair loss. I went to my derm to know what was going on they gave me mesotherepy (which helped to regrow new hair but it all fell out later) I too a losing my hair with the surgery but not as bad as I thought. My derm told me that they sell a hair spray with a colour to match your hair colour. You spray it on and it blends in the scalp with the rest of your hair...depending on how much hair you have lost....also I keep my hair back and use a hairpiece pony tail and gather my hair in a bun then hide it with a headband...if you look at my pics you an see it, it doesn't make the baldness so apparent....those are some of my tricks