Hair Loss

[Swimmer 199]

This probably won't make you feel better, but I've never met a bariatric patient who didn't lose hair. I'm not syaing they don't exist somewhere, but I've never met one. The hairloss is a systemic issue so there's really no single thing you can do to prevent it. There's also really no external thing you can do that's going to help much (I"ve seen people spending $$$ on special shampoos, leave-in treatments, etc.)

A lot of people think it's because of the anesthesia. Anesthesia can cause it, but it isn't a rule by any means. Look at me as an example:

Lapband put in - lost hair

Gallbladder taken out - did not lose hair

Lapband taken out - did not lose hair

Systemic and largely dietary and reactionary in nature.

La la la la la I can't hear this....

I will get through it and appreciate the honest response!

[exoticheart 5]

I started losing hair at 3-4 months and have thin hair to begin with...I am now at 9 months out and slowly it still comes up and is baby fine now...My co worker had bypass and had thick long hair and now is thin and she had to get it cut short due to the loss.........Just keep taking all Protein and Vitamins to make it as bareable as you can.....I would still be small and healthy with less hair then fat and full with alot of hair

Good luck on your journey

[PhoenixFire 10]

typically' date=' almost everyone loses hair from months 4 to 6. I had a bit and now in month 7 soon to 8 and hair has come back.

I take Biotin, use Celluar hair products and knock-off rogaine. Gotten a few clients recently tell me I look like the person drawn in the painting done back in 1986.

I have noticed while hair is thicker now it does not grow as fast so it is remaining relatively short - cuts down on barber shop costs.[/quote']

where can I get Biotin and will it be labeled like that?? Also cellular hair products is that the name or the type and if so can u tell me the exact Shampoo it is that u use and where u get it?? Thanks. Sorry if these questions sound stupid but it's all new to me.

[Swimmer 199]

I got my Biotin from GNC, but I've also seen it at Target.

[clm91108 1]

I got my Biotin at Walmart they sell it in the Vitamin isle

[favoredone 590]

I've started losing some hair.. Not a lot, but way more than my normal shedding... I'm a little concerned, but, I'll get a haircut!!! I'll take 3 sizes gone over long flowing locs anyday!!!!

It grows back!!! I hope!! LOL.. just kidding.. it does... I think...

[carbgrl 119]

I have a dr I see for something other than weight loss. He is like Dr House from the tv show ( except much nicer). He is so smart and is just a walking book of all kinds of knowledge and facts. He is helping me with the surgery and supporting me through this ( having my surgery in may ). He swears by taking B-5, B-12, and rubbing lavender on your scalp, the hair loss will not happen or be much much less. Again I haven't had my surgery yet so I don't know if it works but I promise I will be doing this before surgery just in case. He truly is the most educated/ smartest person I know. Hope this is helpful for someone!

Straight Lavender or are you supposed to mix it with an oil like almond oil. Most essential oils like lavender, cedarwood, peppermint...have to be added to a carrier oil. I'll try anything. I've read Cypress "may help with hair growth" but I've never tried it.

[Wheetsin 714]

If you haven't yet experienced the hairloss being discussed, it might alarm you when it starts. Mine started literally overnight. My hair is now short (by choice, not due to the loss) but it was about waist length when I had my first bariatric surgery. The first day it started falling out I was wetting my hair in the shower and happened to look at my hands and they were completely covered. Ever hear or see something that sends up the hairs on the back of your neck? That's what seeing my hands covered in hair did for me. I've seen people go through chemotherapy and I remember thinking, "This is what chemotherapy does."

Here are some things it might help to keep in mind. These aren't rules but I don't think there are many exceptions, either...

• If you don't wash or rinse daily, it will seem worse than it is. I've seen a LOT of people deciding they just aren't going to wash their hair, because they lose so much more when they do. This isn't true. The hair is already out, it's just "stuck" on other hairs, and washing or rinsing "frees" it. Nothing about the Water or Shampoo is exacerbating the loss. Please, don't stop cleaning your hair.
  
• When you condition, it will seem worse than it is. Think of how slippery your hair gets when it is conditioned. Similar to above, the conditioning "lubricates" their hair and makes it untangle from the other hairs. It's not actually worse when you condition, it will just seem like it is.
  
• The hair you're losing is really not "that much" in the big scheme of things. We're used to seeing a few hairs here and there. Yes, you're going to lose a lot more hair than what you're used to seeing, and when you look at your hands it's going to seem like half your hair is there, but it's not. The people who thin noticeably have Hair loss for a long time. Most people find it greatly tapers or completely goes away after 2 - 4 months (that's my own average based on reading about this for like 8 years).
  
• It might help to avoid tight, pulling, or constricting head err... ornamenture? ... for the first few months. Think really tight ponytails, or heavy hair accessories. Anything to reduce the stress placed on the hair at the follicle.
  
• Nioxin gets a lot of buzz, I think mostly for what it has done for cancer patients. I believe it's intended for people with naturally low Hair growth. I don't know if the "results" come from some effect with the rate of hair growth/loss, or (what I'm guessing it might be) an effect of making the existing hair seem thicker, so it seems like less is lost. I just don't know. But if it could make hair grow back, or stop hair loss, I'm pretty sure it would be more widely known. It cannot claim a "cure" without an FDA certification so at best it might help with... something. I'm not trying to poo-poo on the people who swear by it, but in the absence of actual literature it's all just anecdotal.
  
• Biotin supplements were the Nioxin of 5 years ago. Then people were trying Biotin shampoos. I know 2 RNY patients and 1 AGB patient who took Biotin supplements. 2 saw nothing. 1 claimed no difference to the hair on her head, but said she had to start shaving her arms because she got crazy man-hair arms. Shrug.
  
• Flax seed oil is rumored to help. Taken orally, not rubbed on. I don't know if it works for hair but it's a nice, gentle, natural laxative. We used to give it to DD. When she was an infant she got horrible Constipation and would scream/bleed when she could finally go. And what bariatric person can't use a little laxative now and then?? Except maybe DSers.
  
• Make sure you're taking a GOOD QUALITY BARIATRIC Vitamin. I don't mean a chewable Centrum, or Flintstones gummies, or whatever other crap I see people taking and expecting to actually help keep them healthy. I mean one with crazy high nutritional values. And make sure you're taking an adequate number. I've looked at a lot of Vitamin labels and Bariatric fusion seem to be the best - it's what I have bought for post-op (surgery is next week). I wish they'd been around when I had my band put in but back then they used to tell us to just take a multi, preferrably chewable. I'm not affiliated with them at all, I just think the stats of the Vitamins are the best. I'll be taking 3 or 4 of these puppies a day. We all needto be B12 whores.
  

HTH