A few questions...

Hi everyone! I'm not quite sure if this is the right forum, but I'm sure its no biggie. I have just made an appointment with my doctor for a lap band consultation. Currently, I am 24 yrs. old at 5ft 3in and weigh 240lbs (109 kg). I have toiled over weight reduction surgery for the past 3 or 4 years. I was just wondering about a few things that maybe you all could help me with before I even go to my consultation.

I know hair loss is very typical post-op, and is experienced differently person to person, but I was just wondering if your hair ever comes back? I was a water polo player back in my high school days and the swim cap that I wore every day sort of contributed to a slight thinning of my hair, especially in the front, so I'm a bit concerned about if my hair will regain its natural thickness once my body has leveled out (protien levels and all that jazz).

I was also wondering about pregnancy after the surgery. Have any of you women had children since you have been banded? I do plan on having children sometime in my life (preferably before I'm 30), and I was wondering if the band has any sort of complications with pregnancy.

I've done a lot of self research on this, and I really think that this is the right choice for me. I've been the chubby girl my whole life, and I am the only one in my immediate family that has ever had a weight problem. Any advice or comments would be greatly appriciated!

Well, I never lost any hair although I did have a period where my hair was absolutely awful, ratty, dry, breaking. It was impossible to style, I had to get quite a drastic haircut but it turns out, I absolutely LOVE my shorter funky hair - at 40 a cute bob is perfect for me rather than longer hair anyway. And my hair is in the BEST health its ever been in, honestly, the attention to better eating, the daily multivitamin, the exercise, I now have a head of really shiny bouncy healthy hair. Its never been thick, always fine and frizzy but these days I can even get away with not styling it if its a casual situation - like dinner at the pub after a day at the beach kind of thing - which is unheard of for me.

Your hair will recover if you lose, its common to lose it, and its just one of those things, you dont know if it will happen or not. Some people lose as a result of anaesthesia, others due to lack of a combination of vitamins and minerals or too little protein.

There are people who have been pregnant with the lap band. I believe there is a place on here if you go to the main board, for people who are pregnant and banded. You may have to have your band unfilled while you are pregnant, so you can eat enough to support yourself and a growing baby.

Yes, your hair will come back. Don't freak out when it falls out. Believe me, I have researched this as much as humanly possible. There are no vitamins or supplements that will stop it from falling out if it's going to. Just make sure you get as much protein as your doctor tells you to.