Here is a good overview of why we lose hair after surgery from a Prevention article.

http://m.prevention.com/beauty/beauty/solutions-thinning-dry-damaged-hair

Edited January 26, 201511 yr by Inner Surfer Girl

I thought it was because there wasn't enough protein in a person's diet

I just had a non WLS procedure under anesthesia last week. I asked the anesthesiologist if going under creates hair loss later. He said he had never heard of that but typically never hears from his patients months after their surgeries. He said physical stress in general can cause hair loss and surgery itself is a big stressor.

My hair just started growing back after my March WLS and I was scared I would lose it again and it might not grow back a second time. My mom lost her hair twice to methotrexate and it never came back the second time.

I did not believe my WLS hair loss was due to Protein deficiency or losing weight too quickly. I was sure the surgery itself was the culprit. I still think so, but maybe not the anesthesia per se.

I had an emergency hysterectomy back in 1993. All of my hair fell out (90 days later). Dr told me when there is a shock to your system car wreck, death, divorce...emergency surgery....etc.....can cause your hair to fall out. He had a big long name for it and it occurs 90 days later. Your hair usually all grows back. Mine had a finer texture and there was a thin spot on top of my head.

I thought it was because there wasn't enough Protein in a person's diet

Yes, lack of protein is part of it according to the article.

Stress of the surgery, lack of protein, change of diet, and medication seem to all have an impact according to the article.

Oh yeah. And my pending divorce. Oh yeah. And no sleep for the months before I left him. Hmmm.

I am batiking a bunch of head scarves to use in prep for the hair loss phase. I was terrified of my hair falling out but now I just see it as part of what I have to go through to get what I want.

My hair thinned about 3-4 months after I had the lapband. It finally grew back and I just revised to bypass. I'm dreading the day when I start losing more hair in the shower

I'm thinking positive. I asked my NP at my appt.. last week about it. She told me that they have very little problems with it. I don't know if it's cuz we're started on supplements so early (day 3 post-op) or if it's that by day 7 we're taking in 60 grams of protein.

That being said, I'm still preparing for it to happen but hoping she is right!

My hair started falling out in handfuls at around 4 months out. Washing my hair was a miserable experience and I was feeling pretty awful about myself. I grew weary of trying to hold onto my long hair that looked so terrible and I cut it short a couple of weeks ago. It was a real confidence booster!

???? That's why mine is still long! I've been wanting to cut it as I'm in the pool three times a week. I'm holding the hair cut in reserve as no one we know has ever seen me with short hair. I think that it would be such a shock that no one would notice thinning hair!

Have to admit that I was worried about hair loss too. But 7 months and 110 lbs. later it hasn't happened. All I can say is that I've had a 30-gram Protein shake every single morning for Breakfast since before my surgery. And ever since two weeks post op, I eat at least 80 grams of protein and drink 64-120+ ounces of Fluid every day. And I take a Biotin supplement every night. Maybe the hair loss is still on the way, but my doc thinks I would have seen it by now. Don't know if that's the winning formula, or if I'm just genetically blessed in that regard. But I do know that it's a great formula for weight loss. So for you newbies who are worried about hair loss, why not give it a try? It certainly can't hurt!