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I’ve still got my fingers crossed for my brows. Have a few coming in but they seem finer. I’m patchy. Lost some of my brows from a combination of following those micro fine brows of the 80s & then a skin infection. Get my brows micro bladed which is great (about 5 years ago) but I’d still like some more of my own brow hairs as well. The hair loss with the weight loss is an acceleration of your natural hair loss cycle not a permanent loss. So you’re just shedding hair you would usually be shedding in your normal cycle more quickly. People lose different amounts, some more than others for about 3 or so months from around months 3 or 4. Doesn’t seem to differ if people take supplements or not. Certainly won’t hurt @Mskmartin & it may make your new growth stronger.

Hi lovelies, Hope you are all well. Need your thoughts please. Had my VSG 5.5 months ago and these were my stats: Weight: 198/90 KGs Height: 168/5'5-5'6? I started at a BMI of 33, which I understand was on the lower side. Since surgery I have lost weight quite rapidly and I suspect its due to always being at a BMI of 22 my entire adulthood, I ate well, worked out and remained fit even after two pregnancies. My weight issues started 5 years back and then followed by a very bad ankle injury that affected my mobility that I reached my highest weight of 198. I understand that that where my body feels most comfortable at and its decided to take the chance to lose the pounds and run with it. My original goal was 154, and I got there very quickly then I changed my goal many times and settled on 127 which I am currently very close to. My surgeon seems to be a little apprehensive and has told me to try to slow it down and as per him it is very rare that he sees such rapid weight loss on a lower BMI patient. His original comment at 2 months was that the weight I had lost in 2 months was supposed to be my target at 6 months. Last time I saw him he asked me to up my calories to 1500 (currently at almost 800 on weekdays give or take, 600 on weekends because I apparently don't have much of an appetite on weekends). He ordered some bloodwork which I still haven't gone in for. I feel like my health is good, other than hair fall and the customary dizziness when getting up I am in fantastic health, I workout hard, I make good food choices and I prioritize my Protein. I also look great if you ask me. My fear is I am losing too much too fast, and from what I hear and see, you don't quite stop losing until at least 12 months post op, which - according to my projections and calculations - will leave me at 110/50 KGs at 12 months out. That is way too low I fear and I do not want to look like a skeleton. Also I feel I have a huge restriction and I can't eat more than a few bites at a time, drinking Water has become an aversion, I have to drink BCAA and sugar free iced tea to hydrate and tiny sips of water every hour or so. Other than that I eat very well, except I can't eat enough to maintain due to restriction. I am a little worried of my what will happen as the days pass and where I will end up. I don't want to get sick or too frail to work out and lift weights. I want to look good and feel good and I am not sure where my weight loss is heading but I am quite worried at this point. I also get comments on how I have lost half my body weight from people which is quite inaccurate lol but it's a complete shock when I meet someone who I haven't seen in some time, even my colleagues seem to think I'm looking too skinny. Sorry for typing so much, I thought it would be better if you have the full picture so its easier to respond. For anybody who's experience this, any thoughts?

What are the best supplements for weight loss?

Hi! I am 2 years out from my gastric sleeve, I’ve lost plenty of weight but I’m still not at my target goal and I’m struggling to lose weight. Has anyone tried Ozempic or Wegovy? I’m considering going on one of these but I would appreciate any insight from anyone if they’ve used either of these drugs! Thanks!

As we all know loosing the weight after bariatric surgery can be quick and easy, but I have noticed throughout various bariatric groups, That maintenance seems to be the hardest. What were some of your Keys to success that helped you maintain your goal weight over the years? What was steadfast and True?

Hair is primarily protein, so protein intake does affect hair and hair loss as well. I know I will lose some hair. I used to have super thick, long hair, but PCOS thinned a LOT of it out for me. Fortunately, it is still pretty thick, but I am still trying to limit what I will lose as much as I can. Muscle wasting is a concern for me. I do have a decent amount of muscle, I work as a bedside nurse and, before I had some lower body issues, lifted pretty regularly. Didn't touch the scale or take any inches off, but at least I was flexible and stronger. Today marks the end of my lift restrictions, so I am hoping I can go back to doing some weight training soon!

I probably should have said more clearly that the minoxidil suggestion was because OP thought some of the thinning was age related. I also had age-related/thyroid related thinning, so when the expected additional thinning happened after surgery, the result was shocking. I decided to use the minoxidil at that point, knowing that it was not going to do anything for the surgery-related loss and that it would be something I would need to continue for the rest of my life. I completely agree that if it's just the temporary weight-loss/surgery related hair loss, minoxidil is not the right choice. But if you already were concerned about hair thinning prior to surgery, it's something to consider. I also had almost no eyebrows (pre-surgery, for many years, because of thyroid) and daily minoxidil treatment has started to bring those back.

I started losing my hair 3 weeks out and it hasn't slowed a bit. I've lost about 50% of my hair and have some noticeable bald spots now. I want to dye my hair dark - will the hair dye affect anything? I figure it's totally unrelated since the hair loss is hormonal and my hair isn't actually DAMAGED and shouldn't break. My hair looks thin and stringy. I am kind of thinking about shaving it totally off even though I would look ridiculous. I don't know what to do. Every day there are clumps in my shower drain I have to remove. Yes, I've tried all the supplements and special shampoos and blahblahblah. I've come to accept it's just going to happen and EVENTUALLY it will stop and everything will regrow... but it's been almost 6 months of this! Prior to surgery, I'd been trying to grow my hair out from a staggered forward bob and it's taken almost two years, so I'd rather not cut it... but when the new hair grows in, will it looks all patchy and uneven in length? Maybe this belongs in rants and raves. lol. Any thoughts on the hair dye?

My surgery-induced hair loss has only just started to turn around, so I know what you are going through and how distressing it can be. I have done two things to help. One is using minoxidil every night before bed. I found a 3-pack on Amazon of a spray (not a foam, which I find too messy) that is so easy to use and costs under $40. For a woman's dose (4 squirts per day), each bottle is supposed to last 60 days. I find it doesn't last quite that long, but I probably get about 6 weeks out of each bottle, making it cost maybe $2.50 a week. I've been using it about 14 weeks and I am seeing tons of regrowth, I would say definitely beyond what I lost. The hair is all short right now, a couple inches in length, but by the summer I hope it will be closer to my above the shoulder hair length. Which beings me to my second trick: hats. I live in a cold weather climate and I bought a bunch of hats, although I had some wide fabric headbands and crocheted bandanas in the fall when it was warmer that also got the job done. Not sure if you are male or female, but for women's styles, try searching for either "slouch caps" or "chemo headwear" online for some lighter weight hats that can help you hide the thinning until it reverses and that are comfortable indoors. Once your weight loss slows, the hair should regrow even on a maintenance dose of Zepbound. It just takes time, way longer than you think! Oh, I should say I had my surgery in Feb 2024, so in terms of when my major weight loss was happening, I'm betting we're at kind of the same stage with the hair loss. And I'm almost 51, so ditto on the age-related issues. But the minoxidil is a game changer.

Speaking of hair... I am pretty vain about my hair. When I was bigger, my manta was "well at least I have great hair" because its long and super thick. But over the last 2 months, I have been shedding like crazy. It's excessive! I know there is no way I will lose all of my hair; I just have too much. But I am still freaking out a little about the amount. Plus, it's just super annoying to always have shedding hair everywhere. Has anyone else experienced this and what did you do to help? I am already taking Hair, Skin, Nail vitamins everyday and collogen frequently.

Hello everyone its been a while since ive been on here. If you want to check out my previous posts you will see i had quite a few struggles and bouts of depression because of those struggles. But since then things have gotten a lot better. I started the program itself at a weight of 395. I had my sleeve done on 01/18/2024 (i was 367 on that day) and my current weight as of today is 294. Im just wondering if i am losing the way i should be at this point. Ive tried a few online calculators but they just confused me lol. I know for a fact im not getting all of my protein like i should be or water intake because i just get full so fast! (not that im complaining TOO much but it is annoying when something is good lol). I always take my vitamins and such thankfully ive never missed a beat on that. I have my gym membership but i havent been going as much as i should be i get in maybe 2 times a month but i will pick back up on that. Im not just sitting around the house though i have 3 kids and a spouse so relaxing isnt possible until bedtime LOL. Anyway i just wanted to know what you all think of my weight loss so far, and if you think the loss ive gotten at this point is on track. I meet with my 6 month check in next month of course but just wondering until then.

So... I am pretty vain about my hair. When I was bigger, my manta was "well at least I have great hair" because its long and super thick. But over the last 2 months, I have been shedding like crazy. It's excessive! I know there is no way I will lose all of my hair; I just have too much. But I am still freaking out a little about the amount. Plus, it's just super annoying to always have shedding hair everywhere. Has anyone else experienced this and what did you do to help? I am already taking Hair, Skin, Nail Vitamins everyday and collogen frequently.

Hi, friends! I had the traditional duodenal switch on 04/24/2024 with Dr. Joshua Roller in Fayetteville, Arkansas. My surgery experience was fabulous and I have had zero complications following surgery. I haven't even so much as vomited since surgery. I am 5 weeks post-op and feel great! I wanted to let folks know, though, that it is their "company policy" to only provide FMLA/short term disability coverage for 2 weeks. I had done a lot of research on this surgery prior to having it and was expecting 4-6 weeks for recovery. I had previously (in 2019) had a surgery to remove my gallbladder and 2 weeks was so unbelievably inadequate for me to recover. No one asked me about my FMLA or disability paperwork until my group dietician appointment the day before my surgery (as I was an out of state patient from Ohio). The nurse said, "If anyone has FMLA paperwork, we will take it now. We provide 2 weeks off work. Any longer and we need documentation of complications to extend it." Since I was in a group setting, I felt uncomfortable contesting this. I spent a significant amount of time in distress over this, as I wouldn't even be home a full week or on solids for more than a day before they said I should return to work. They would not budge on this policy. Thankfully, my employer allowed me to take 2 extra weeks of leave, but that was a privilege extended to me and my job was not legally protected during those extra two weeks. Additionally, I was not paid at all for those extra 2 weeks because according to Dr. Roller, I only "needed" 2 weeks, not 4 weeks. I am struggling a lot financially post-op because of this, as my short term disability company has a waiting period and I only got paid for a few days of work while being out for 4 total weeks. Roller's office is phenomenal in every other way and like I said, my hospital stay and my surgery itself have been everything I hoped for and then some, BUT I think that this issue is a pretty big one for some folks. I was in no shape to return to work at 2 weeks post-op and genuinely feel that Dr. Roller's office needs get rid of this policy where they paint every patient with the same brush. I am chronically ill in other ways and I should not have needed to have complications from surgery to qualify for more than 2 weeks off from work. This disappointed me greatly.

So at this point, I am confused to say the least. Started the bariatric Program: 336lbs Day of surgery: 326 CW:279 2 weeks shy of 5 months post Vsg GW 220-230 In the morning I can not eat food without first, drinking, something hot it’s the only time I really feel restricted. I am two weeks away from being five months out. Noticed I’m will only lose about 1-2 pounds a week but I fluctuate the same 1-2 pounds. I can’t get my protein from real food after eating 3oz of chicken at noon. I can’t eat real food for the rest of the day. Water intake is not a problem. But I have been at a stall for a month!! dietitian does not want me to rely on protein shakes, but that’s the only way to meet my protein goal. Any advice???

I can speak to minoxidil for eyebrows because I had almost no eyebrows left after years of thyroid issues and I started using it a few months ago on my brows and I'm slowly getting my eyebrows back! I also have some chronic thinning hair issues on the top and a patch at the back of my head. With the surgery hair loss, it's gotten so much worse that I wear a hat all the time. I decided to go ahead and use minoxidil for that, too. I'm okay with having to use it every day forever since I know it was not great pre-surgery, anyway, so it's something I might as well address now. I'm at almost 10 months post-op and the hair loss has completely stopped and the new growth is visible. If I had been pleased with my hair thickness pre-surgery, I would have just waited it out without using anything. My guess is by summertime it will look a lot better. In the meantime, hats and big headbands are my go-to. For reference, I use a 5% foam on my brows (Rogaine brand) and a 5% liquid spray on my head (If you are in USA, the brand is Dabida and I buy it on Amazon in a 3-bottle pack for about $40). One container of foam will last at least 6 months or more since I use the tiniest bit on the brows. The spray is 60mL per bottle and I use 4 sprays daily, which is supposed to be equal to 1 mL, so a 3-pack should last about 6 months. You could use the liquid on brows but the foam is easier to manage. I put it on brows and head at night before bed. It does seem to dry my hair a bit, so I bought a really good hair masque to use weekly for deep conditioning.

When I had my surgery, I had long straight (with a slight wave to it) hair. After the surgery, I treated myself to a haircut (and I got it cut layered, which I normally don't do) and when I did, my hair literally curled lol I always knew I had wavy hair, but I had no idea it had so much curl lol People keep asking if I got a perm and I say no. But I don't think they believe me lol

I’m trying to smile more … hope everyones doing ok

Oh yea. Well I never did like to shower on the cold winter days because my wet hair makes me cold afterwards but they are usually only a handful of really cold days abs then we have a warm day after. This year I don’t have as much insulation or hair for this freakishly cold winter. The hair thing works out for after the shower but your head does get cold even inside at like 69 without hair it’s weird. I used to always be hot and 69 felt good but not this year. I lost 85 pounds and all my hair and of course it’s would be our coldest winter in 20 years. Triple whammy. 😂. I guess at least in the summer I won’t be so hot 🤷‍♀️ i am definitely gonna talk to my hubby about converting our guest room into an exercise room. We haven’t had anyone over in years and I really would like to get a normal sized treadmill the one I have works for space but not for my clumbsy nature. I could get some shallow shelves and keep all the weights and yoga mats and all that in there too.

Ha. I had that puff bit sticking out when I had regrowth from a site where I had a cyst removed. I flat ironed that little section every dang day until it got enough length to grow down like the rest of my hair. And today I was out shopping and saw all this fluffy regrowth (from applying minoxidil) sticking up and being all bendy. It will be straight as the rest of my hair in time. Try some smoothing products and your that iron in the mean time @FifiLux Yes, try an anti itch &/or dandruff shampoo & hair and scalp oils @Dchonlee and if it continues see a derm. Out of curiosity, have you changed any hair products lately? Could also be from your hairdryer, flat iron, etc. and general heating in your house in winter adding to your scalp dryness.

Hi, looking for some advice, ive had a gastric band for 11 years and had it removed last month due to complications. Im struggling to loose any weight now. Im on a calorie restriction deficit now on 1400 cals per day & not loosing anything. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

When peopel talked about this. I was like okay I've had this issue before but then when I saw what they meant!! I was freaking out n but it didn't last too much but I'm still shedding but it's not thaaaaaat bad. I just cut my hair a few times to not feel it and I started this multivitamin for the hair n nails and my doc told me to stop because it was effecting my results! So I never went back. Apparently u just need to eat well and protien and and it will get better

Anyone else? Ive been experiencing extreme itchiness and dandruff with my hair but also extreme growth. Im about to try a anti itch shampoo but is this normal?

I always had thick hair which is why I am the bit frustrated at the moment as the top part, maybe about 5 inches, is thick but the lower part is the hair that did not fall out so is thin. I always wanted a curl to my hair so that would be great but not just at the roots I will just keep cutting up a bit each time and straighten when needed. I can't really tie it back, even though it is to my shoulders as the crown part just pops out after an hour or so. Ah well. It is not just my head that is itchier though, I find that I am rubbing/scratching my back and arm put area these last few months, feel like a chimpanzee.

Hi All, I am having my surgery in 2 days (10/1/19) and just need to see some motivation to help me stop being so nervous. Can everyone just provide their first 6 month weight loss stats. Lbs down per month - month 1, 2, 3, etc...so I can be reminded of all the good things I have to look forward too! I am so excited but so scared and this simple thing will help me tremendously. Thanks!