To those of you who have had your sleeve for a while, how much hair have you lost? Is it sudden or gradual? Is it in clumps or shedding? Did you find biotin helped? Do you have any special shampoos or hair masks or supplements you use to help slow down the hair loss and/or speed up regrowth? I have PCOS, so I'm used to hair shedding (many women end up with very thin-to-balding hair with it. I have had moderate shedding but my hair is thick enough that you can't really tell). My surgery day is May 3rd and I'm just trying to prepare myself. ALSO, did anyone notice any drying of their skin? If so, what do/did you use to help with that? How long did it last? Is it really bad, or just mild? Thanks in advance!!!

6 hours ago, Merill said:

Yes apparently the teeth can get brittle and break?

WHAAAAT???? Nobody ever told me this!!!! I just had a crown and 3 fillings done and had my teeth deep cleaned. I'm going next week to have sealant put on them because I have sensitive teeth. Holy smokes. I better call my dentist tomorrow. I had absolutely no idea this could happen!!!!

4 hours ago, SleeveDiva22 said:

WHAAAAT???? Nobody ever told me this!!!! I just had a crown and 3 fillings done and had my teeth deep cleaned. I'm going next week to have sealant put on them because I have sensitive teeth. Holy smokes. I better call my dentist tomorrow. I had absolutely no idea this could happen!!!!

Everybody's body reacts differently ours may not be the teeth it may maybe the hair we can never know but yes I've heard that teeth do get brittle if not taken adequate supplements?

3 hours ago, Merill said:

Everybody's body reacts differently ours may not be the teeth it may maybe the hair we can never know but yes I've heard that teeth do get brittle if not taken adequate supplements?

I never even knew there was a possibility this could be a thing. I knew about the hair, but not the teeth. Holy smokes. I gotta look into this.

Started at around month 3 or 4 & persisted for about 3 or 4 months. Just noticed more hair in my hands when shampooing. According to my hair dresser I lost about 40% (I think it was more 30%) but I had heaps to begin. You may lose more or less. It’s very individual. I cut my long hair to just above my shoulders so it wasn’t as noticeable.

The hair the sheds is hair that you were going to lose anyway - your natural hair loss cycle is just accelerated. Your new hair is growing at the same time but at it’s usual rate so isn’t really noticeable for a while - you’ll start to see fluffy new growth after a month or so depending on how fast your hair grows.

Remember all the hair on your head is actually dead & naturally sheds. The live part is root under your skin. So all the vitamins & supplements may do is strengthen your new growth. Fertiliser won’t save dead leaves on a plant or stop them falling off but can promote new leaf growth. Some people swear by vitamins & supplements but they still lose hair over that similar 3 or 4 month period.

I never had a problem with my teeth. I go to my dentist every 6 months & he gives me a gold star every time (he was my PE teacher at school & we laugh about it as he never gave me a gold star at school ??).

My skin didn’t get drier actually the opposite. Always had dry & itchy arms & legs & those little bumps on my arms regardless of how often I exfoliated & moisturised. Don’t exfoliate at all now. My skin is soft but I do moisturise but not as lavishly. My legs have started to get a little itchy again but I think it’s more to do with shaving than anything else. The better diet. More protein & little or no sugar are why. You will look a little drawn & tired while losing but this settles once you are in maintenance & eating a little more. Everything seems to need time to resettle again.

23 minutes ago, Arabesque said:

Started at around month 3 or 4 & persisted for about 3 or 4 months. Just noticed more hair in my hands when shampooing. According to my hair dresser I lost about 40% (I think it was more 30%) but I had heaps to begin. You may lose more or less. It’s very individual. I cut my long hair to just above my shoulders so it wasn’t as noticeable.

The hair the sheds is hair that you were going to lose anyway - your natural Hair loss cycle is just accelerated. Your new hair is growing at the same time but at it’s usual rate so isn’t really noticeable for a while - you’ll start to see fluffy new growth after a month or so depending on how fast your hair grows.

Remember all the hair on your head is actually dead & naturally sheds. The live part is root under your skin. So all the Vitamins & supplements may do is strengthen your new growth. Fertiliser won’t save dead leaves on a plant or stop them falling off but can promote new leaf growth. Some people swear by vitamins & supplements but they still lose hair over that similar 3 or 4 month period.

I never had a problem with my teeth. I go to my dentist every 6 months & he gives me a gold star every time (he was my PE teacher at school & we laugh about it as he never gave me a gold star at school ??).

My skin didn’t get drier actually the opposite. Always had dry & itchy arms & legs & those little bumps on my arms regardless of how often I exfoliated & moisturised. Don’t exfoliate at all now. My skin is soft but I do moisturise but not as lavishly. My legs have started to get a little itchy again but I think it’s more to do with shaving than anything else. The better diet. More Protein & little or no sugar are why. You will look a little drawn & tired while losing but this settles once you are in maintenance & eating a little more. Everything seems to need time to resettle again.

That is great advice! Thank you! I have thinning hair on top as it is and it was really scary for me to think about more at hair losses as I keep reading about others who were losing their hair after surgery, but reading your comment made me reassured and confident now that it will go back to normal within a couple of months at least it's not permanent thanks once again ??every little bit of knowledge helps to make it more successful on this WLS journey ??

9 hours ago, SleeveDiva22 said:

WHAAAAT???? Nobody ever told me this!!!! I just had a crown and 3 fillings done and had my teeth deep cleaned. I'm going next week to have sealant put on them because I have sensitive teeth. Holy smokes. I better call my dentist tomorrow. I had absolutely no idea this could happen!!!!

Everybody's body reacts differently ours may not be the teeth it may maybe the hair we can never know but yes I've heard that teeth do get brittle if not taken adequate supplements?

2 hours ago, Arabesque said:

Started at around month 3 or 4 & persisted for about 3 or 4 months. Just noticed more hair in my hands when shampooing. According to my hair dresser I lost about 40% (I think it was more 30%) but I had heaps to begin. You may lose more or less. It’s very individual. I cut my long hair to just above my shoulders so it wasn’t as noticeable.

The hair the sheds is hair that you were going to lose anyway - your natural Hair loss cycle is just accelerated. Your new hair is growing at the same time but at it’s usual rate so isn’t really noticeable for a while - you’ll start to see fluffy new growth after a month or so depending on how fast your hair grows.

Remember all the hair on your head is actually dead & naturally sheds. The live part is root under your skin. So all the Vitamins & supplements may do is strengthen your new growth. Fertiliser won’t save dead leaves on a plant or stop them falling off but can promote new leaf growth. Some people swear by vitamins & supplements but they still lose hair over that similar 3 or 4 month period.

I never had a problem with my teeth. I go to my dentist every 6 months & he gives me a gold star every time (he was my PE teacher at school & we laugh about it as he never gave me a gold star at school ??).

My skin didn’t get drier actually the opposite. Always had dry & itchy arms & legs & those little bumps on my arms regardless of how often I exfoliated & moisturised. Don’t exfoliate at all now. My skin is soft but I do moisturise but not as lavishly. My legs have started to get a little itchy again but I think it’s more to do with shaving than anything else. The better diet. More Protein & little or no sugar are why. You will look a little drawn & tired while losing but this settles once you are in maintenance & eating a little more. Everything seems to need time to resettle again.

THANK YOU for this!!! I'm used to shedding due to PCOS. I more want to promote healthy, strong regrowth naturally. So maybe the supplements and proper diet will help with that.....