I had a gastric bypass on April 8th. Total weight loss since starting the process.... 120lbs. That's fantastic, even if I do say so myself! Lol. But I'm going bald. I'm losing so much hair! I'm taking the bariatric multivits twice a day, bariatric calcium wafers twice a day, B12 two a day & biotin. I bought $40 Nioxin shampoo & conditioner to help with thinning hair. Protein intake is great, usually 80 + a day. Have any of you found anything to help?

I'm at the three month mark, and it has started... I can't believe I have 6 more months of this!!! I'm taking Biotin, B Vitamins religiously. I only wash my hair twice a week, and never blow dry it, in an effort to keep as much of it as I can! But every time I do wash it, lots falls out. My husband showed me what he took out of the shower drain, and it looked like half of my hair!

It WILL grow back! It's only hair. :-)

I'm thinkin' RED HOT wig!!!

I too am just now at the 3 month mark. I haven't noticed any unusual loss. I'm paranoid as crap about it though! The thing is that my hair is curly (though in most pictures of me you will see that have flat ironed it into submission since I no longer relax it), so when I wash it, all my gnarly curls are all clumped together and I see a lot of hair in the drain. But I always see a crap ton of hair in my drain. So I don't know if this is starting or just me being paranoid. Oh well, I can always go to the wig store and get myself a fancy wig with blue highlights or something if it is falling out.

I also had exploratory surgery when I was six, but I do not recall losing hair then (I would have been devastated because hair is everything to a six year old girl, so I know I didn't lose any then). But that was 31 years ago! aging changes our bodies reactions to things.

As I understand the cause, hair loss isn't caused by "surgery." Hair loss happens approximately three months after significant Protein loss.

So that sounds to me like the period right after surgery when everyone is having a hard time intaking sufficient protein is the precipitating event (funny pun) for the hair loss three months later.

As I understand the cause, hair loss isn't caused by "surgery." Hair loss happens approximately three months after significant Protein loss.

So that sounds to me like the period right after surgery when everyone is having a hard time intaking sufficient protein is the precipitating event (funny pun) for the hair loss three months later.

I beg to differ. If you research it, hair loss can be caused by many things - pregnancy, physical and/or emotional stress, severe weight loss, and yes, surgery.

Terry, of course, you're right -- there are multiple reasons for hair loss.

Here's the source I was quoting (which also cites pregnancy, etc.):

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/09/03/21-reasons-why-youre-losing-your-hair/

Here is one of the explanations I found. Much of the info I found when researching this was pretty much the same.

www.drdkim.net/ask-the-dietician/understanding-hair-loss-after-bariatric-surgery/

Terry, that's a great link. Thank you!

Edited August 9, 201412 yr by VSGAnn2014

Keep up the good sense of humor, ladies. I'm going to need you when mine starts falling out!! I had cancer when I was 27 (I am now 54). I didn't lose my hair like they said I would, instead it turned a nice shade of gray. I have colored my hair since. At least this time, I am doing it by choice!!!

Terry, that's a great link. Thank you!

You're welcome! It helped me understand the how and why of it, and it was reassuring to know for certain it would get better. :-)

I took those pills that kept you from absorbing the fat. (Forget the name, they eventually became over-the-counter). Anyway hair loss was a side effect of those too. My hair is already thin so I stopped dying it and it's short I'll probably have to go bald. Lol. I think it has to so with the protein. Michele

I have had lots of surgeries over my lifetime and never lost hair. Oh well, I am not complaining. Smiling all the way to the skinny girl clothes. Well, 12s to me are skinny girl clothes LOL!!!

On another thread someone said it did not matter what you took your hair is going to fall out. I truly believe this. I had emergency hysterectomy and 90 days later all of my hair fell out. I went to the doctor and he told me it was because my system went through a schock. He told me it could be from surgery, death, wreck...etc...anything that is a shock to your system.

I have had three c sections, one 15 months apart from the other. 14 months later I had vein stripping on both leggs. That was 25 years ago. 16 years ago another c section, then 3 years after that open hernia repair and appendectomy. Twenty eight stitches!!!!! Home for 6 weeks with a visiting nurse and a home attendant. Didn't lose one single strand! After any of these major surgeries. Lets hope my trend keeps up.

I tell you what, I don't care if I lose every hair on my head to get rid of this weight. I will rock some wigs till that crap grows back. My little Asian beauty supply store guy will go CA CHING when I walk thru the door. I could care less