I know verterens may be tired of this topic and it may have been done to death but I have researched the topic and get conflicting and half answers. I am 2.5 months preop and have been experiencing hair loss for the past few weeks. I already have thin hair and am very worried. I have read that Biotin is good and am currently waiting on my doctor to approve me taking it (have an underlying condition so I must be careful). I see many people started using it before their surgery so I feel behind. My concern is, will it grow back? I knew before surgery I may experience this but I really do not want to be noticeably bald. Please share your experiences and advice with me. Thanks.

-Worried

From all of the research I've done hair loss is due to the trauma and lack of Protein around the time of your surgery. As long as you are getting all of your protein and taking your supplements post-op, the hair loss is only temporary and it will grow back.

My personal experience has been that I started losing a lot of hair around the 3 month mark. It seems like a LOT when I look in my shower drain and all over my bathroom floor, but it is not noticeably thinner when I look at my head and I don't think anyone else would notice it. The average human loses 70-80 head hairs a day. I would say I was losing closer to 200? I am now about 5 months post-op and the hair loss is slowing down (though still happening) and I can now see new growth all along my hairline in just the past few days. I see little baby hairs sprouting up.

I never took extra Biotin (there's some in my multivitamin), because the research on whether it makes a difference for hair loss is non-existent (though there is some evidence that it strengthens hair). I have, however, worked VERY hard to get all of my protein in since I was allowed back on full liquids post-op.

I started losing hair about 2.5 months post op and now 9 months post op it seems to have slowed down and I have new hairs growing in all over my scalp. I would suggest buying Toppik spray on fibers (amazon is where I buy mine) as it does an amazing job thickening up the hair and disguising the thinning areas. The small container will last you over a month or more. Your hair will grow back and it is rare that it will all fall out to the point where others will notice or comment. I took biotin pre surgery and still do daily. I'm not sure if it has made a difference. It has made my nails really strong!

Edited January 29, 201511 yr by Bluesea71

My doctor said it was up to me whether or not I wanted to spend the money on Biotin. I went all out and instead of getting the 325 mg dose, I got the 10,000 mg dose from Walgreens and still take two every day, plus I have sugar free Jello every day (for the gelatin) and bone broth Soup several times a week. I am 13 months out from my sleeve and had no major hair loss at all.....just a few strays around the house. At around two months I did have an issue with brittle nails, but that resolved by month four.

My doctor said it was up to me whether or not I wanted to spend the money on Biotin. I went all out and instead of getting the 325 mg dose, I got the 10,000 mg dose from Walgreens and still take two every day, plus I have sugar free Jello every day (for the gelatin) and bone broth soup several times a week. I am 13 months out from my sleeve and had no major hair loss at all.....just a few strays around the house. At around two months I did have an issue with brittle nails, but that resolved by month four.

That reminds me. I did start taking Beef Gelatin around 40 days post-op, but that was to help with loose skin, not my hair.

I think you find conflicting information because different people have different experiences. I took 10,000mg biotin dally from pre op and got all my protein and it didn't stop my hair loss. Started at about 6 months stopped about a year out. It's growing back though.

The hair loss may or may not happen to you. I have definitely read more posts from people that it did happen to. But they have also said that their hair grew back. So no worries there!

You need to research Telogen Effluvium. There is no magic pill, oil, or powder that will stop it IF it is going to happen to you. You can purchase Biotin if you like, but be aware that it can affect all hair growth. This means it can put a few hairs on your lip and chin. Also, you have to make sure you consume lots of water b/c it can also cause acne. And not just acne on your face.

Lots of people cut their hair into a shorter/layered style until the hair loss stops. Some also color their hair a lighter color during this time. A few wear wigs.

Just know that this phase will end and the hair will grow back.

Lots of people cut their hair into a shorter/layered style until the hair loss stops.

I did that preemptively. Cut my hair short at about the 2 month mark so if/when it started falling out it wouldn't be as noticeable.

Understanding hair Loss after Bariatric Surgery

Hair loss after bariatric surgery is very common and very stressful. We all want to achieve great weight loss results and still have great hair. The hair loss associated with bariatric surgery is called telogen effluvium and has to do with the normal hair growth cycle. It usually starts abruptly and very seldom lasts longer than 6 months. Human hair has a two stage growth cycle. The growth phase is called anagen and 90% of our hair follicles are in this phase at any given time. The resting phase is called telogen, which lasts about 1 to 6 months, with an average of 3 months. About 5-15% of our hair is in the resting phase at any given time. It is also known that telogen effluvium has to do with stress to the body and hormonal changes that can occur. Due to the stress more hair follicles can enter into the resting phase. This is important because the hair in the resting phase at the time of surgery is most likely the hair you will shed. This is why your hair sheds between 1 to 6 months after surgery (usually about3 to 4 months). When the hair starts to grow again the old hair follicle is released and you lose hair. Sometimes the hair comes out before new hair grows, yikes!

So in summary, this type of hair loss is a diffuse shedding of hair as it relates to the normal hair growth cycle. It is common in men and women and all races. It occurs a little more frequently in women typically after child birth and can also happen to infants after the first month or so of life.

Why does this happen in people who have bariatric surgery? The most common reasons are:

• Surgery, acute illness, trauma

• Chronic disease such as liver disease or any chronic debilitating disease

• Hormonal imbalance such as hypothyroidism

• Crash dieting, low Protein intake, anorexia, chronic Iron deficiency

• Heavy metal toxicity

• Medications such as beta-blockers, excess Vitamin A and anticoagulants

So, what we have here are a few things that may be affecting people with hair loss. It starts with surgery, a very low calorie intake and possibly low protein intake. Then you add any illness along the way, an underactive thyroid, iron deficiency, or genetics and you get hair loss of about 5-15% of your hair follicles. Other nutrients implicated in hair loss include zinc, Biotin, folate, vitamin B-6 and essential fatty acids. If no deficiency of these nutrients exists, then they will likely be of little use.

The good news is that you can count on the hair returning unless you have a chronic illness or genetic reason for the hair thinning. The following suggestions are the best advice I can give anyone with telogen effluvium, now that we know what it is.

• Relax and don’t worry. It is natural hair loss of 5-15% of your hair due to the stress of surgery and weight loss. It rarely lasts more than 6 months. It grows back.

• Visit your primary care doctor to be evaluated for any illness or non-nutritional reason for hair loss such as thyroid disease or other chronic illnesses.

• Follow our dietary prescription, which calls for limited calories and exceptional diverse protein intake on a daily basis. DO NOT add a lot of protein and increase your calories so much that you sabotage your weight loss. Obesity kills, not a little hair loss!

• Take a bariatric specific multi-vitamin with adequate B Vitamins, folate, zinc and biotin. Don’t forget your B12 and Calcium citrate with Vitamin D supplements.

• Avoid excessive Vitamin A and high dose zinc supplements they are both potentially harmful.

• Add iron if you are iron deficient based on your lab findings in consultation with your healthcare provider.

• Consider adding an additional B-complex. The B vitamins are not generally toxic and the extra B vitamins with biotin may help keep your metabolism running smoothly.

• Eat fish rich in Omega three fatty acids several times a week or supplement with fish oil supplements in consultation with your healthcare provider.

Consider discussing minoxidil drug therapy with your healthcare provider as a possible means to grow or thicken hair. This drug has not been shown to stop the process of telogen effluvium, but given that it stimulates hair growth it may have some benefit.

I started losing hair at about 3 months and it is now slowing down at almost 5 months. I did bring up this topic with my nutitionist and she said that there is only one thing you can do about the hair loss and that is to use minoxidil (so basically Rogain). It is easily found at any store or drugstore. It will slow the rate of hair loss down for you until your body recovers from the stress it has sustained.

Some people will say that Biotin will help and there is certainly no harm in taking Bioltin every day.

It's hard (and scary) losing that much hair all at once, especially when you don't have a lot to begin with. It WILL stop and your hair WILL grow back.

Thank you all It was really helpful.