| The question of hair loss comes up all the time in | | | | becomes drab and lifeless. |
| the LivingAfterWLS community. Is there anything | | | | I knew hair loss was a potential result of weight |
| we can do to prevent hair loss or at least | | | | loss surgery, but because I'm a "cup-half-full" |
| decrease the severity of it? | | | | person, I didn't believe that hair loss would happen |
| Some bariatric centers say there is nothing to be | | | | to me! That just happens to other people, I told |
| done, that patients have to just live with the hair | | | | myself! Imagine my surprise when my blonde |
| loss as part of the gastric bypass experience. | | | | locks were littering the bathroom floor like hair |
| Other centers say a diet of 70g. protein a day will | | | | saloon |
| prevent hair loss. Still other centers recommend | | | | The hair loss is a transient effect of your gastric |
| taking a daily multi-vitamin and supplemental | | | | bypass surgery and will be resolved when nutrition |
| vitamins intended to improve hair health. I believe | | | | and weight stabilize. Many patients report |
| in taking a supplemental vitamin that contains silica | | | | favorable results from taking a silica tablet that |
| which is known to improve the health, texture | | | | contains calcium, magnesium, zinc, boron, betaine |
| and volume of hair. | | | | and horsetail extract. Usually this vitamin and |
| Hair loss usually occurs in the fourth of fifth | | | | mineral supplement is marketed under the |
| month following weight loss surgery. During the | | | | "healthy skin, hair and nails" category at vitamin |
| phase of rapid weight loss, caloric intake is | | | | stores and discount stores. |
| marginal. This puts the body in a state of panic | | | | This is a large vitamin - I call it "the big ugly" and |
| called starvation. A healthy body normally sheds | | | | for new post-ops it will be nearly impossible to |
| ten percent of hair follicles at any given time. | | | | swallow. The pill can be split with a sharp kitchen |
| When a body is starving roughly thirty to forty | | | | knife or purchase a pill splitter at the drugstore. |
| percent of hair follicles are sacrificed as the body | | | | As always, check with your bariatric center if you |
| channels nutrition to more vital areas. During this | | | | are newly post-op before taking any nutritional |
| phase hair loss is dramatic, often patients find | | | | supplement or medication. |
| clumps of hair on the shower floor. Remaining hair | | | | |