Has anyone experienced hair loss? I’m 4 months out from ESG down 50 pounds and my hair started falling out in the last 2 weeks and it’s so depressing. I luckily have thick hair already but I can’t even run my hand through my hair without ending up with a handful of hair. I got some zinc I read that was good for hair loss and I take a hair nails and skin supplement. I’m just so sad losing this much hair is concerning. Thoughts? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Hair loss is fairly normal after a weight loss procedure. Some say various products help and they may do for some people, but its probably coincidental to timing.

https://www.dallasweightloss.com/understanding-hair-loss-after-bariatric-surgery/

https://emergesurgical.com.au/why-am-i-losing-my-hair-after-bariatric-surgery/

Hair loss is normal in weight loss. It sucks. I remember mine started around 4 or 5 months out. It stops after a few months. Also, it looks like a lot to YOU, but people around you won't even notice. At least in my own experience, anyway.

happens to most people after weight loss surgery. It's actually a potential side effect of ANY major surgery, but I think it occurs more often after weight loss surgery than some of the others because in addition to the surgery itself (surgery causes a lot of stress and trauma to the body), we're also taking in very few calories those first few months.

some people swear by supplements like Biotin, but others say it does absolutely nothing. So the jury is out on that. The best thing you can do is keep on top of your protein and vitamins so it doesn't get any worse than it will anyway. But know that for most of us, even though WE notice it, others don't, and it'll stop falling out after a couple of months and will grow back in. It's very unusual for it to fall out in noticeable clumps (happens to some - but again, very unusual). More often, it's just a lot of "shedding" and isn't really noticeable to others.

I lost hair between months 5-8. No one else noticed it - and it all grew back.

I'm 4 months out too and also started noticing this in the last few weeks. Each hair brushing session I'm finding I'm emptying the brush bristles like 3-4 times!! Not to mention all the hair on the bathroom floor. From what I've read about it they just say to make sure you're up on your vitamins/minerals/protein and that it will eventually stop and grow back again. Something about how your body, after surgery, starts utilizing the vitamins/minerals/etc for more important things (to the body anyway) like the heart, lungs, etc. That it sorta puts your hair in a dormant stage which is why it falls out but that it eventually evens itself out and will start growing again. Since I already know I'm getting getting what I need vitamin/mineral and protein-wise, I'm just gonna stick it out and see how it goes.

Hair loss is common about 3-4 months after ANY major surgery, not just bariatric. There’s usually nothing you can do to stop it. My hair loss lasted maybe 2 or 3 months, but the rate of loss is back to normal now.

From what my team said. Nothing will help with the hair loss. The supplements will help with the hair that grows back in to make it stronger and healthier but it won’t help the accelerated loss unfortunately. I wonder for those reading this that are pre op if taking it pre surgery would help prevent it??

My surgical team have advised the same. Hair loss/fall is bound to happen but they'll eventually stop and go back to your usual. Till then continue with the protein/vitamins. I was told not to waste money on extra supplements since they don't make much difference.