I had surgery 6/3/09. I'd been told about possible hair loss, but this is getting ridiculous. My hair has been falling out since the beginning of august. I have to clean my hair brush out everyday. I starting to know how Chemo patients feel. Ugh! am I going to go completely bald? I've already got really thin spots at my hair line. I'm taking 2 Flinstones complete daily, a b-complex Vitamin and about 6000 of Biotin. Is there anything else I can do? Any foods good for the hair? When did the hair loss stop for those of you ahead of me in this process?

Lisa

start weight 293 - May 3, 2009

day of surgery 276 -June 3, 2009

today 233- Sept 6 2009

Hey....

Well, I haven't been banded but for seven days, so I'm not sure what to tell you. I was told that the loss of hair had more to do with an inadequate amount of Protein than anything else. How many grams do you get a day?

I know mine will start falling out soon. I have felt great, but I can't stand this liquid diet much more. I am hungry and yet nauseous most of the time just thinking about those sweet Protein shakes. Hopefully, I'll be able to find something today to help. Any suggestions?

Good luck, and try adding more protein. Otherwise, go to your regular doctor and see if he or she has any suggestions. :thumbup:

Are you getting in all your protein? Women are supposed to get 65 grams of protein a day as a minimum. My nutritionist told me my hair would thin out if I wasn't getting my protein.

We were talking about this in group the other day and everybody is different. Some people have hairloss after surgery from the anethesia (sp). That is any type of surgery so it could not even be related to your band.

It sounds like you are getting in your Vitamins and the Biotin is supposed to help - that is what our nutritionist and doc recommend. So I would chime in with the others and make sure you are getting in enough Protein.

I know my ponytail is much smaller, but now my hair seems to be growing back in - I have little wispies! That happened about 3 months after I started losing it. So a pretty quick turn around. For me anyway!

I have had hair loss since May. I had my surgery Jan. 22. Luckily I am blessed with very thick hair. I don't know how I am not bald. There is hair everywhere and my family is starting to really complain about it. I went to my doctor and he is checking to see if my thyroid was overstimulated by the drastic weight loss. I have lost 107 pounds in 6 1/2 months. Also, talk to your doctor about having your B12 levels checked. I was told that lap band patients do not have to take the b12 dots but my levels were very low so now I am getting daily b 12 shots for 2 weeks. Good Luck!

Thanks for the replies, I'm probably not getting enough protein, even though it seems like that is all it eat. I can't do the protein shakes because of the artifical sweetners (I'm allergic). I'll have to start counting my protein and see where that gets me.

There are a lot of reasons for hair loss and no one is QUITE sure, as best I can tell, what it is. Many say Protein, but I feel like I'm getting plenty.

I've faced this type of hair loss before - after my last child was born. It went on for months, and there was always soft, flighty "new growth" coming in. Same thing that is happening to me now (my surgery was 5/29).

I have been researching. Hormonal changes are a big suspect for hair loss. I'm sure my body is experiencing hormonal changes with the weight loss.

I have very thick hair, normally, and it's feeling thinner every day. A big gob seems to end up on the shower floor every time I shower. With as much as I've seen come out of my brush or the drain, it's shocking there is ANY left on my head. LOL

But... when I was losing all that hair after my daughter was born, it did eventually stop and re-grow and get thick again. I'm going to trust that will happen this time too.

By the way, a few of the supplements I found that are supposed to help are:

Spirulina

Silica Complex

I bought both from Amazon and have only started taking the Silica recently. Perhaps, if you're interested, you could google both of those along with "hair loss" and decide if they may be an option for you? I cannot give a personal testament to their efficacy yet, but I thought I'd pass along what I learned in my research - some people swear by them for helping with hair loss.

I too, have had major surgery in the past, and my hair fell out for a while, I just woke up one morning and there was a bunch on the pillow. I dont think that it is specific to band patients, I think it has something to do with the trauma your body is going through.

I read something that your hair is falling out all of the time, in cycles, and something about the major surgery makes 2-3 of your cycles clash. Which is the reason that it seems like you are losing a ton of hair, when in actuality you are losing the same amount of hair, just in a shorting time. Dunno if it is true...

I also am losing hair and have been for the past two months. My hair loss started right at three months after surgery. I have talked to my PCP. He said that the stress of surgery and rapid weight loss is most likely the cause since I lost 20 pounds in the first three weeks. I had test and everything was normal; thyroid, B-12, Iron, etc.

There are other posts out here and they all say the same thing, after three months your hair will start to grow back and it will be a thick as it was before unless there really is a deficency so you might want to have the blood work just to make sure all is good.

I am taking Biotin and using Nioxin shampoo. It seems to have slowed down the hair loss a little and I am at the two month point since the loss has started.

I wish you luck, but I am confident that my hair, and yours too, will start to come back in.

Rapid weight loss can be a cause for temporary hair loss. The good news is it will grow back. Protein and Iron are important for maintaining a healthy head of hair.

This link provides a a good explanation.

Prevention's Healing with Vitamins Hair Loss

Thanks for the replies, I'm probably not getting enough protein, even though it seems like that is all it eat. I can't do the protein shakes because of the artifical sweetners (I'm allergic). I'll have to start counting my protein and see where that gets me.

Get all your protein and add flax or peanut butter for the oils you need. I didn't lose any hair and the fat seemed to be the only thing I did differently.