Who has experienced this with the band and how do I avoid it? I'm scheduled for banding in a couple of weeks but this has me freaked out.

Please don't let something like this discourage you. I am currently going through the hair loss phase. It's not real fun to have but I'm handling it. I have (well...had) thick hair. I don't have bald spots or anything, you can just tell when you grab it in a ponytail. Dr. says to up the protein and I do believe my body is still adjusting. I see it like this...hair will grow back..being overweight can kill you......

I HAVE NOT YET BEEN BANDED EITHER, BUT THE hair LOSS THING FREAKS ME OUT AS WELL. RIGHT NOW MY HAIR IS MY BEST ASSET AND I DON'T WANT TO LOSE IT. THE NUTRITIONIST SAID THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HAIR LOSS AS LONG AS I GET THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF Protein. I HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED SOME Protein powder AND HOPEFULLY THAT IS ENOUGH TO AVOID ANY HAIR LOSS. I HOPE THERE ARE OTHERS THAT WILL POST ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES.

Sorry but your nutritionist is wrong. 70% of people having surgery of any type experience hair loss. Not a thing in the world to do with nutrition in this case. A lack of protein can do it but we also have about a 2 month store of protein already before we ever go into surgery.

I was always told that hair loss was for bypass folks only, that's just not true.

There are a gazillion threads on the topic, might want to do a search and see for yourself.

WasaBB is completely right. I have been losing weight for almost six months now and I am coming into a hair loss phase. I notice that more is on the brush than before, I feel the difference in my ponytail and it looks listless.

I have been getting 80-120 grams of Protein a day (fitday says my average was 90 grams of protein a day for the past six months), I take two chewable MVI's a day, Calcium supps, get about 4000mcg of Biotin a day and STILL am losing hair. It just happens, it just does. Not much to do about it, I don't think... I am still trying to stay about 80 grams a day postop and am hoping that it will grow back like everyone says it will. My hair is past my waist and I'm devastated at how it is starting to look...<!-- google_ad_section_end --><!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

I just celebrated my six month Bandiversary. Have not lost any hair.