Hair loss at 4 months post-op! Ordered collagen pills. Anyone ever take those?

[Selina333 40]

I didn't expect this much hair to be coming out. I don't want to lose more. I know I don't eat enough Protein but making it a huge priority now and ordered collagen pills. I get full too fast and so can't add it to coffee.. I never can finish a cup. Anyone losing hair or lost it around this time? What helps? I'm 190.6 today. And in Nov last year before surgery I was 244. Feeling way better but I want to keep my hair too! LOL! Thanks for any advice and insight!

[SpartanMaker 1,149]

If you want to try collagen supplementation, you certainly can, though the scientific evidence is a bit of a mixed bag. Some studies seem to show benefit, but I think we have to keep in mind this condition is also a temporary issue brought on by the stress and dietary deficiencies you went through. In short, it's going to resolve by itself over time and thus it's really hard to know if the collagen is actually doing anything.

IMO, the best possible thing you can do for your health, for your Hair loss, as well as to speed your weight loss would be to really double down on dietary Protein intake and not supplements.

For those about to jump in and mention that collagen IS protein, yes that's true, but it does not contain all the essential amino acids. As such, you really should not count it toward your daily protein intake. Plus, a capsule isn't going to contain very much protein anyway. I'd guess less than a gram per capsule, though I suspect it might vary based on the source and size of the capsule itself.

[AmberFL 1,019]

My hair was coming out in chunks around 4-6months -I thought I would be lucky but sigh nope!. My hair is coming back thick and I'm 15months post op. I make sure I eat 100+ grams of Protein a day (usually closer to 150g which might be too much but that is something I am trying to figure out), take all my Vitamins and I put 2-4TBLS of this in my coffee or incorporate it into my food every single day:

https://www.gnc.com/powders/542500.html?ogmap=SHP|NBR|BING|STND|c|SITEWIDE||{B_PMax_NB}|All Products - Holiday||396351403|1244648496726018&gclid=4eaca2547a921363fd6aca455842f355&gclsrc=3p.ds&msclkid=4eaca2547a921363fd6aca455842f355&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=B_PMax_NB&utm_term=2329590261827342&utm_content=All Products - Holiday

Edited April 29 by AmberFL

[Arabesque 7,552]

The Hair loss can be shocking and frustrating but save your money on supplements, special shampoos & treatments. Unless you’re lacking in the specific nutrients you require for Hair growth they won’t help. The hair loss is temporary and for most lasts 3-4 months (regardless of taking supplements or not). During this time of stress and hormonal changes, your usual hair loss cycle is accelerated so you lose more hair but it is hair you would lose at some point. Your new hair is continuing to grow just at its usual rate. Meet your Protein goals and ensure you’re getting in the nutrients, take a Vitamins you’ve been advised to take. A blood test will show if you’re lacking in anything.

Many of us cut our hair shorter as shorter hair always looks thicker and bouncier than long. And it will take less time for your new growth to reach the length of your shorter hair.

Also there is no real evidence in support of collagen for hair growth (hair is made of keratin not collagen). Want to take it for your skin, go for it. I agree with @SpartanMaker: as collagen isn’t a complete protein it can’t be counted as part of your protein intake and you’ll get more collagen per dose/serve of a collagen supplement in powdered form than a capsule. It dissolves well & isn’t filling like a Protein Powder.

If the hair loss persists or the loss is excessive, a dermatologist will be the best for you to see for help and other causes of the loss than just weight loss.

[Selina333 40]

Thanks for all the comments. At least I know it's not just me going through this. And all the info you shared is good to know! I guess I'll up the Protein in my food intake! Sounds like that's the best thing I can do.

Oh. One more question! Does Protein Powder have amino acids?? Not that I can get a lot of that in, especially if it's filling!

Thanks again!!

[SpartanMaker 1,149]

38 minutes ago, Selina333 said:

Oh. One more question! Does Protein Powder have amino acids?? Not that I can get a lot of that in, especially if it's filling!

Simple answer, Yes. Slightly more complex answer, ALL protein is made up of amino acids. That's sort of the definition of a Protein.

I suspect what you may be asking is does Protein Powder contain all the essential amino acids? For those that don't know, there are some amino acids that our bodies can manufacture themselves, and others, called essential amino acids (EAAs), that we have to get from dietary sources to stay healthy.

For the most part, protein powders do contain all the EAAs. Some are better quality than others however. I personally would focus on "Whey Protein Isolate" because it's fairly pure and has a more rounded amino acid profile compared to some other sources. If you are vegan or just prefer to avoid whey for some reason, soy also is pretty good, but pea and rice tend to be a bit lacking in one or more EAAs, so caution is advised there. A mix of various sources is probably the way to go for vegans

Edited May 1 by SpartanMaker

[Selina333 40]

Thank you!

[BlondePatriotInCDA 577]

On 4/29/2025 at 9:37 AM, Selina333 said:

I didn't expect this much hair to be coming out. I don't want to lose more. I know I don't eat enough Protein but making it a huge priority now and ordered collagen pills. I get full too fast and so can't add it to coffee.. I never can finish a cup. Anyone losing hair or lost it around this time? What helps? I'm 190.6 today. And in Nov last year before surgery I was 244. Feeling way better but I want to keep my hair too! LOL! Thanks for any advice and insight!

I agree with SpartanMaker that you can try all the supplements people suggest but;

..I recently went to my dermatologist for Hair loss and I worked in a dermatology clinic for years so not only did I ask my personal dermatologist, but I went back and asked my former employers about supplements/treatments. My personal dermatologist said studies/research shows that they really don't work including Biotin shampoos etc. Biotin coats the hair shaft to fluff it i.e. make it stand up a bit giving the appearance of being fuller and working, but its coating hair that's already dead so its not treating hair loss. So until your hair stops shedding it can help with appearances. collagen can't hurt, but most likely won't help.

All the dermatologists at my old clinic (6 separate doctors) all agreed that hair supplements aren't worth the money since they really don't work, but if it made me "feel better" taking them and I didn't mind "wasting money" they couldn't hurt. They all agreed that making sure I got all my Protein in each day and taking my Multivitamin so I wasn't deficient was the best route to take.

I was told that in general after a major surgery if people continued to "shed" after 12 - 18 months to be sure to make an appointment as there could be more going on but until then it was completely normal.

Needless to say I continued to shed past 18 months and made an appointment. I'm now being treated for possible LPP which could have been brought on by the stress of surgery - its difficult to determine as its idiopathic. Luckily for me its really early and doctor feels I won't get bald Patches. Whew!

So, unless its major shedding (clumps), you notice bald spots, itching, sores, redness, scaling etc, or you've gone past the 18 months timeline its a "normal" reaction to the stress of surgery there isn't anything to be done other than wait it out. All else fails to assure you, make an appointment with your dermatologist to alleviate your concerns.

Edited May 1 by BlondePatriotInCDA
Typo

[Selina333 40]

Thank you!! Great to know!!