When I brush my hair and wash it my hair falls out. How long has this lasted for those who have lost hair?

It's most dramatic between 3-6 months. Should start to slow up pretty soon. it grows back.

The fallout actually happens when your follicles "restart", they go into a sleep/rest mode during certain times / stresses, surgery and greatly reduced calorie intake can trigger follicles to rest, so when they finally "wake up" they will start making new hair, shedding the old hair that's been chilling out during the rest phase.

https://www.drdkim.net/ask-the-dietitian/understanding-hair-loss-after-bariatric-surgery/

How long it lasts will really depend on what % of your follicles went dormant. But the good news is that your follicles are back in business!

It’s my understanding that the hair loss comes during the next natural shedding cycle. Everyone sheds at the end of the “telogen” phase, which is approximately every 3-4 months. It depends on when your surgery is with correlation to your next telogen phase, as to when you will experience hair loss.

https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/science-hair#2

Mine lasted bout 3 months, take Biotin supplement

Thank you so much for all your comments. I'm hoping it stops soon!!

57 minutes ago, AshAsh1 said:

It’s my understanding that the hair loss comes during the next natural shedding cycle. Everyone sheds at the end of the “telogen” phase, which is approximately every 3-4 months. It depends on when your surgery is with correlation to your next telogen phase, as to when you will experience hair loss.

https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/science-hair#2

@AshAsh1 you are correct that we naturally have a "telogen" phase, but what happens to WLS folks is that there is a shock to the system that causes more follicles to enter telogen than would normally do so.

"For instance, 6 weeks after restrictive dieting or a high fever you can experience telogen effluvium (diffuse hair fall). This occurs when your anagen phase is cut short and many hairs enter the telogen phase all at the same time."
From https://www.philipkingsley.com/hair-guide/hair-science/hair-growth-cycle/

10 minutes ago, Matt Z said:

@AshAsh1 you are correct that we naturally have a "telogen" phase, but what happens to WLS folks is that there is a shock to the system that causes more follicles to enter telogen than would normally do so.

"For instance, 6 weeks after restrictive dieting or a high fever you can experience telogen effluvium (diffuse hair fall). This occurs when your anagen phase is cut short and many hairs enter the telogen phase all at the same time."
From https://www.philipkingsley.com/hair-guide/hair-science/hair-growth-cycle/

This does seem right, the only odd thing is that many people don't experience it until 3-4 mons post op, not 6 weeks later. Either way, there is science behind it and it won't last forever. Mine has already started slowing down. It was pretty heavy in my 3-4th month.

10 minutes ago, Matt Z said:

@AshAsh1 you are correct that we naturally have a "telogen" phase, but what happens to WLS folks is that there is a shock to the system that causes more follicles to enter telogen than would normally do so.

"For instance, 6 weeks after restrictive dieting or a high fever you can experience telogen effluvium (diffuse hair fall). This occurs when your anagen phase is cut short and many hairs enter the telogen phase all at the same time."
From https://www.philipkingsley.com/hair-guide/hair-science/hair-growth-cycle/

This does seem right, the only odd thing is that many people don't experience it until 3-4 mons post op, not 6 weeks later. Either way, there is science behind it and it won't last forever. Mine has already started slowing down. It was pretty heavy in my 3-4th month.

Just now, AshAsh1 said:

This does seem right, the only odd thing is that many people don't experience it until 3-4 mons post op, not 6 weeks later. Either way, there is science behind it and it won't last forever. Mine has already started slowing down. It was pretty heavy in my 3-4th month.

The timing is going to be different for everyone, that's just 1 explanation I found. Some folks don't lose hair at all, some drop all of it... I'm just hoping that my beard doesn't fall out!! **THAT** would suck!

Mayo Clinic indicates that the hair included in this phase is “scalp, longer hairs on the eyebrow, eyelash, arm, and leg. Therefore, I’m not sure if beard hair is included. Does your beard hair shed on a normal basis?

https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/science-hair#2

12 minutes ago, AshAsh1 said:

Mayo Clinic indicates that the hair included in this phase is “scalp, longer hairs on the eyebrow, eyelash, arm, and leg. Therefore, I’m not sure if beard hair is included. Does your beard hair shed on a normal basis?

https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/science-hair#2

Yup My beard does shed... and my beard is longer that some folks hair LOL

I would die if all my hair fell out!!

2 minutes ago, LoriWhip said:

I would die if all my hair fell out!!

Odds are... it will happen.

41 minutes ago, LoriWhip said:

I would die if all my hair fell out!!

I doubt it will all fall out. You will have some loss though. Most people do experience shedding.

4 hours ago, LoriWhip said:

I would die if all my hair fell out!!

I had amazingly thick hair when I had surgery, and I'm here to tell you that even if you lose 75% of your hair, you won't die My shedding happened twice during the last 2 years, but my hair is almost back to normal.