I cannot agree more about the GS . I was a 26 now my 18's are bagging and sagging! 16 here I come!
The deal about the hair loss is this ... we set up the conditions responsible for the hair loss LONG before we lose the hair.
And I have YET to see anyone who has had the surgery AND took Biotin who avoided the hair loss.
Come to think of it, I have only rarely heard of anyone who did not lose hair.
And in all cases I can recall reading about here, the hair does grow back. It's just a pain in the meantime.
Here's a good writeup about the causes, process, and timing of both our hair loss and hair regrowth:
Obesity Action Coalition » Weight-loss Surgery, Nutrition and Hair Loss
Consult: 235 lbs
My and doc's preop diet: 216 -19 lbs
M1 postop 205 -30
M2 193 -42
M3 184 -51
M4 174 -61
M5 167 -68
M6 162 -73
M7 156 -79
M8 151 -84
M9 148 -87
M10 146 -89
M11 144 -91
M12 143 -92
M13 142 -93
M14 140 -95
M15 139 -96
M16 137 -98
M17 135 -100
First Surgiversary post
Second Surgiversary post
Third Surgiversary post
Terps, you can always do what I do and buy clip in hair extensions for less than $10 on Amazon. lol.
WLS patients suffer hair loss for very specific reasons: the stresses of surgery, anesthetics, and rapid weight loss halt the growth of new hair and hasten the (temporary) release of old hairs. Hair loss happens to most patients, but women understandably notice and complain about it much more than men do.
You can read much online about hair loss after weight loss surgery, including an excellent write-up found at http://www.laparoscopic.md/bariatric/surgery/hair-loss. Here are a few excerpts from that write-up:
"Post-bariatric hair loss usually occurs between 3 to 6 months after surgery, and may persist for 6 to 12 months or more, depending upon the underlying cause. Diagnosis is usually based on medical history and clinical examination, with pattern and onset of hair loss, concomitant symptoms such as skin and nail abnormalities, and the use of medications potentially of significance."
"Some degree of hair loss is relatively common following bariatric surgery, usually occurring 3 months or more after surgery and affecting around athird of all patients. The precise causes of post-bariatric hair loss are unknown; factors including changes in nutritional status and the impact of surgery upon the hair growth cycle are thought to be involved. In most cases, hair will begin to regrow without intervention once weight has stabilized."
FYI, my own hair loss started at 4-1/2 months post-op. I'm almost 10 months post-op now, and my hair loss is almost over. Yesterday after washing my hair I found very few hairs on the shower floor.
Consult: 235 lbs
My and doc's preop diet: 216 -19 lbs
M1 postop 205 -30
M2 193 -42
M3 184 -51
M4 174 -61
M5 167 -68
M6 162 -73
M7 156 -79
M8 151 -84
M9 148 -87
M10 146 -89
M11 144 -91
M12 143 -92
M13 142 -93
M14 140 -95
M15 139 -96
M16 137 -98
M17 135 -100
First Surgiversary post
Second Surgiversary post
Third Surgiversary post
Interesting...I chatted with my NUT about this and she advised that the cause, especially for women, is the release of estrogen. Apparently, estrogen is stored in fat. So when we lose it, the estrogen is also released. This is what may also be a contributing factor in (women) being affected by depression and mood swings post-op, as well as being super fertile - thank goodness for hysterectomies. At any rate, it's probably a combination of a million things, all unique to each of us. Three months from now I may be complaining about the same thing. Who knows? My NUT did advise, however, against any supplement that was taken to combat this, advising the zinc levels would be too high and that after the blood work comes back she can always tell who didn't follow her guidance, fwiw.
Surgery is scheduled for a week after Tuesday, the 23rd. Not looking forward to recovering over the lovely Seattle summer, but excited nevertheless - woot woot.
I am 3.5 weeks post op and very concerned about the possibility of future hair loss. I had a hair transplant years ago and have been advised to take 2 medications to keep the hair loss to a minimum. I have no idea if that will help now. All I can do now is take bariatric vitamins, biotin and 80+ grams of protein per day. Apparently many of us will have hair loss within the first year. Not looking forward to it but at least it will grow back.
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