hair loss

The amount of hair you will lose was basically "set" at the time of the severe physical shock of your surgery. This is a very common phenomenon called telogen effluvium and there is nothing you can do to stop it. You can Google up "telogen effluvium after bariatric surgery" for an explanation.

The only thing you can do is work on excellent nutrition to support the new growth that will come in as these old dead hairs fall out. They are actually being pushed out by that new growth.

Don't waste your money on lotions and potions and special hair growth miracle supplements. Take some biotin if it makes you feel better and get a crapload of protein and all your supplements in. This will pass and in a year or so you'll have a new head of hair. It's part and parcel of the package.

In the meantime, get your hair cut shorter and in a layered style to help reduce the obviousness of the loss. Consider hats, extensions and/or wigs. This is temporary for almost everyone.

I'm one of the few for whom it was permanent. This was a hell of a jolt, but still a tiny price to pay for being alive and well. So now I collect hats and wigs and have loads of fun with it. It's all in how you see it--attitude is everything.

As with so many things in life, attitude is everything. Somewhere on here I've probably posted one or more of my many soliloquies about attitude and hair, but my main points are:

1. You are not your hair. Hair is nothing more than a bunch of dead cells. It comes, it goes. YOU stay and are the same person regardless of the state of your hair.

2. This hair loss is occurring in the process that has saved your life. Welcome it as a sign of new life. (And if necessary, go be around someone who is bald due to chemotherapy. If that doesn't make you count your blessings, it's time for therapy.)

3. Since hair is a major vehicle for self expression, try something new. Chances are the hairstyle to which you've clung as a fat person is in need of updating for your changing shape.

4. It is totally normal today to use additions of various kinds for our hair--extensions, partials, wigs, etc. Go try on some wigs and see what a totally different look might do for you.

Hi Peggy, It took forever for my hair to come back, but it is now nearly at normal thickness. Be certain to have your thyroid levels checked after a year if that could be a problem for you. Getting my thyroid levels correct was the key to getting my hair to grow.

I read somewhere on here that hair loss usually starts 2-3 months after surgery. I decided to be proactive & got my long hair chopped off this week. I donated the hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths, a program that makes wigs for cancer patients. Now that my hair is short, I figure the loss won't be so dramatic.

Shelli

Everything EN said. I think she explained it perfectly in her first post, and then put it in proper perspective in her second post.

I know it's distressing. I cried at the amount of hair I saw in the shower and in my hair brush. I hated it. But even through all that, I would shave my head every day if it's what I had to do to live in THIS body vs my OLD pre-DS body.

My surgery isn't scheduled until Aug. 22nd but I did lose my hair 3 years ago to chemo. I was initially devastated to lose my hair but got over it quickly because I was alive and in a fight for my life. I did cut my hair very short right before starting chemo so losing it wouldn't be such a shock. When it started falling out I had my girlfriend buzz my hair into a Mohawk and had her take my picture before buzzing the rest of it off. Hey you might as well have fun with it.

I started losing my hair pre-surgery and it's only gotten worse so I'm ready to make the move to a wig. I have a friend that wears one and I swear it's her real hair.

Does anyone here have any experience with wigs? Good/Bad/Ugly?

(I take a ton a Biotin and shampoo with Nioxin.)

Well, I just got my hair cut short yet again (did this back in late February, KNOWING my hair was going to fall out). Yesterday was because I will be going in for my hernia repair surgery sometime in August. Another major surgery, so MORE hair loss.

Oh well

Yeah, the hair loss has started. Its not as bad as when I had my first child-that was really bad. I need to take the plunge and get another 4 inches cut off, get some layers. It is hard because one of the few things I like about my body is my long naturally blonde hair, Oh well, it grew back before.

That's hopeful! I'd love to have some curls in my bone straight hair!! Mine is falling out rapidly, much more so than with my RNY and I am facing another surgery in late july, ughhhhhh. However if my hair were to come back in with any curl it would be worth it all!!

pre-surgery I had gotten caught into the "colouring trap". I couldn't stop to allow the hair to grow out without an obvious transition line. I wear longer hair so, I was trapped into continuing.

My thinning DS hair was a great excuse to cut it off, and let the natural grow in. And it seems I really had very little grey to worry about!

How long does the actual "falling out in clumps" stage last? It is absolutely freaking me out to see all this hair in my hands. And they all have little follicle bulbs on the end so I know it isn't breaking.

Omg it's freaking me out big time!

Here it is! But it doesn't have my black and blue spiked Halloween do .

weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=3009&page=1

And I love that thread you reported, thank you!