Hair Loss After Lap Band Surgery...is There A Way Around It?

[hotpink7 0]

Hello beautiful people,

My band surgery is Dec. 6th - woo hoo! - and most of my questions have been answered here, except for the Hair loss deal. Is there anything I can do to avoid that? I've worked hard to grow out my hair and I hope this doesn't sound shallow, but I'd like to avoid losing it if possible. Ideas?

[Rachael1 5]

Good luck on your surgery! I don't know anything about Hair loss, but I wanted to wish you luck. I am not scheduled until Jan 29th ... it feels so far away.

[Humming Bird 275]

I asked a dermatoligist this sort of question just yesterday. Biotin is the only thing that has shown any true results in studies. Even the studies show it doesn't work for everyone. As for my own experience, I started taking biotin before I had surgery and I still lost a great deal of hair (40% at least). I tried everything from shampoos to, vits., extra Protein, even rogain. Nothing was going to help. I have fine thin hair and it just had to run the course. It took quite awhile, but my hair is back to it's normal thickness. Now I take the hair-skin-nails chews from GNC.< /p>

[hotpink7 0]

Thank you Rachael1! You too!

[shap 24]

Why do you lose you hair ? I never heard of that.

[Rachel412 116]

A lot of people have hair loss weeks to a few months after surgery, seems like it's often blamed on the anesthesia.

OP, I don't have any advice other than to tell you that not EVERYONE experiences Hair loss after surgery- I didn't. so there is surely reason to try to avoid it, but don't assume that you'll definitely lose any hair, kwim?

[Cindy C 150]

Your hair doesn't actually fall out, it breaks. It's caused from Protein deficiency and rapid weight loss. Biotin may help a little. Make sure you get enough protein. If you do have Hair loss rest assured that you are the only one who will notice and it will grow back in time.

[B-52 7,113]

Your hair doesn't actually fall out, it breaks. It's caused from Protein deficiency and rapid weight loss. Biotin may help a little. Make sure you get enough Protein. If you do have Hair loss rest assured that you are the only one who will notice and it will grow back in time.

I never experienced any hair loss, But I do get all of my daily protein.

[abphilippi 0]

Keep up on the Vitamins. What ever you call it, losing hair, breaking hair or thinning hair it can be a big problem and one that lasts. You may want to shorten it to take the stress off the shafts and cut down on breakage.

[Jachut 487]

I now can say definitively that Iron is a factor in Hair loss. I came across this early on in the peace, when I had hair fall/breakage just that annoying hair all over the bathroom, I'd been like this for a while, and it drove DH nuts. Eventually, the ends of my hair thinned out awfully, had to cut it off. It never really improved, but the shorter cut got rid of the stringiness and my hair seemed healthy enough. Fast forward a few years and I was diagnosed with rectal cancer - and was very anaemic at the time too, no sooner had I had the very first part of treatment - chemoradiation - which killed the tumour itself than suddenly I felt on top of the world and my hair looked FANTASTIC. All through the surgery and chemo, I had fabulous hair, the fall stopped. Anyway, I noticed a month or two back it had started again, its one of those things that you dont notice for awhile. Had my one year follow up bloods and scan and what do you know, my oncologist says that although my circulating haemoglobin is low but normal, I have NO iron stores left in my body. And to be honest, I feel OK, but not that real sense of wellbeing I felt a while ago. I think when you have hairloss, there is no point posting here hoping for an answer. Protein is not the be all and end all of anything, let alone hairloss. Your B12 levels for example can affect how you absorb iron, taking other supplements can be a factor, there's such synergy between nutrients that you can easily get it wrong - and of course, you really shouldnt load up on somethinbg like B12 or iron without it being necessary. The thing you need to do is go along and get a full blood test to identify any problems. Then you can address it succinctly and efficiently and not waste your time buying expensive urine with supplements you dont need.

[kewlshort1 4]

I am so nervous about hair loss! I lose a LOT of hair daily as it is. I have Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis, and I have lost hair by the handful since I was a teenager. That being said, I have extremely thick hair that was to my waist until I cut it short about 2 years ago. When I wash my hair, I pull a fist full of hair from the drain when I'm done. At any given time, I can run my hand through my hair and pull out at least a few strands, often more. I don't know how I haven't gone bald! The thought of something else potentially causing Hair loss freaks me a bit. When I started on immunosuppressants, I was really worried because a side effect was hair loss. I think it may have gotten a small bit worse (maybe?) since then, but not significantly. I am hoping that by chance I will have a similar response after surgery. Fingers crossed!!

[GLove 44]

Last month at a WLS support group they discussed Inositol for supporting Hair growth after WLS. People using it for that purpose had good success with it. Google it and talk to your doctor about it. Most important thing you can do is get your daily Protein.< /p>

[SaucyBandster 23]

I am so nervous about hair loss! I lose a LOT of hair daily as it is. I have Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis, and I have lost hair by the handful since I was a teenager. That being said, I have extremely thick hair that was to my waist until I cut it short about 2 years ago. When I wash my hair, I pull a fist full of hair from the drain when I'm done. At any given time, I can run my hand through my hair and pull out at least a few strands, often more. I don't know how I haven't gone bald! The thought of something else potentially causing Hair loss freaks me a bit. When I started on immunosuppressants, I was really worried because a side effect was hair loss. I think it may have gotten a small bit worse (maybe?) since then, but not significantly. I am hoping that by chance I will have a similar response after surgery. Fingers crossed!!

I am nervous about the hair loss potential as well and am glad to read all of these responses.

Quick question regarding Lupus. I didn't think you could have the lapband if you had Lupus? My mom really wanted to get the lapband and has it and her Dr said no. I would love to hear how you are doing and if you had any issues with getting approved if you don't mind? Thanks!!

[kewlshort1 4]

My dr was not that concerned about the Lupus or the RA. I am not taking NSAID's now, as he recommended against that. I really don't think they helped anyway. I am still on immunosuppressants and a bunch of others though. He did express that Lupus CAN be a contraindication, however he said the biggest thing was that it MAY cause me to reject the band when it is put in. But even that is not a huge risk, just a small possibility. If that happens, then we would remove it. Personally, I would rather take the chance and then take it out if it happens, than not try at all. I've had 2 c-sections, and never had any issues. I realize they are taking something out, instead of putting something in LOL but I'm fairly confident it will be a non-issue. (or maybe I'm just refusing to accept anything less? ) I did discuss it at a fair length with my surgeon, although I'm not quite recalling all the specifics of what was said. The bottom line was that he was confident it was at least worth a try, and I was glad to hear he thought that. If I were her, I'd check with other surgeons. What's her main Lupus related issues? For me, I have joint and muscle issues. I suppose if I had organ involvement, things might have played out different? I'm not sure. Lupus acts so differently for every person. I would keep looking though, at least for a second opinion. She may be able to find someone that feels confident in the success even with Lupus.

[Beachbunny 5]

I was Banded on 8/17/10 and have had absolutely no Hair loss , in fact my hair is super healthy! Hair loss is usually a concern of sleeve and bi-pass patients.

Edited November 21, 2011 by Beachbunny