I have surgery on 04.09.2012:)Is there anything i can do to prevent hair loss??? how much of a problem was it for you guys???

My surgeon told me that it happens to about 20% of patients. He said that there is not much you can really do about it. It happens because of the drastic weight loss in a short amount of time. It is temporary and will grow back. I am really concerned about this as well. My surgery date is April 4. I guess the best thing to do is to just mentally prepare that it may happen.

The hair loss is because of the traumatic experience your body goes through during surgery. While under general anasthesia, your body basically goes into shock which can damage the hair follicles. I lost more hair after my knee surgery two years ago then I did after my sleeve. I have lost some hair after all of my surgeries where general anasthesia was used but the knee surgery was by far the most severe and I have no idea why.

Everyone is different. Some people who have never had surgery before WLS always blame the lack of Protein. I have proven this theory otherwise because my protein increased dramatically after surgery and I still had breakage (which is not loss). People who think they see the regrowth are actually seeing the hairs that were broken. I had breakage at different lenghts (most near the scalp) but it wasn't enough to make me freak out. No one could see the difference except me and the only difference I noticed was in the thickness. The breakage started around three months after all my surgeries and stopped in my 9th month post op (a 6 month period). I shed for about 15 months after knee surgery.

Everyone has their own experience though. Good luck to you and I wish you all the best (and little to zero hairloss).

“Systemic anesthesia has a profound effect on the body. As you would expect, it pushes the individual into a state of unconsciousness and relaxes muscles. Anesthesia also affects hair follicles. Hair follicles contain cells that are some of the fastest dividing and developing cells of the body. They have to divide fast to maintain the growth of hair Fiber. Anesthesia blocks this rapid cell division. While the application of anesthesia to an individual may only be for a few hours, the hair follicles may be affected to such a degree that they shut down hair fiber production and enter a telogen resting state. A telogen effluvium type of hair loss is the result.” {Source: Desai SP, Roaf ER. Telogen effluvium after anesthesia and surgery. Anesth Analg. 1984 Jan;63(1):83-4.}

My sink clogged, my tub clogged, and my vacuum cleaner broke...I started wearing extensions (hair clips) and it was fine. It's come back, and it was SOOOOO worth it

I have very thick hair . . . I'm hoping it won't be so noticable if it happens to me. But if it does, I'll probably do the extension route too

I'm dreading this myslef. My hair is fine and I don't have tons. I feel like it hasn't come back entirely after the post-partum shed back in 2009!

My surgeon says there's nothing you can do. It usually starts around 3-4 months out from surgery and lasts 3-4 months. Then, your body starts to grow it all back. People talk about taking Biotin and other supplements but I've heard these just cause more hair where you don't necessarily want it thicker and the difference on the head isn't much if at all.

I have very thick hair . . . I'm hoping it won't be so noticable if it happens to me. But if it does, I'll probably do the extension route too

I had very thin hair to begin with...if you have thick hair you are actually going to love it! It will just look like you got it thinned out. Well that's what I've seen with people with thick hair anyway.

THANKS!!!

I am currently 4 months post op. The first three months my hair was not falling out but the weight is coming off so fast that now during the past 3 weeks it's really falling out like crazy. It's actually freaking me out but I'm trying to stick with my high protein shakes and Biotin vitamins. Start taking this before and after you have your surgery.My doctor says that it will last at least 6 months. Even with this happening I don't regret having this life changing surgery.

Boy this forum is so resourceful. My thick hair has thin out a bit! I wanted to cut it but now I'm going to leave it and hope this passes soon.