Hair Loss??

Cherrybomb · 06-18-2007, 11:07 AM

Who has experienced this with the band and how do I avoid it? I'm scheduled for banding in a couple of weeks but this has me freaked out.

Sweety · 06-18-2007, 03:42 PM

I HAVE NOT YET BEEN BANDED EITHER, BUT THE HAIR LOSS THING FREAKS ME OUT AS WELL. RIGHT NOW MY HAIR IS MY BEST ASSET AND I DON'T WANT TO LOSE IT. THE NUTRITIONIST SAID THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HAIR LOSS AS LONG AS I GET THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF PROTEIN. I HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED SOME PROTEIN POWDER AND HOPEFULLY THAT IS ENOUGH TO AVOID ANY HAIR LOSS. I HOPE THERE ARE OTHERS THAT WILL POST ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES.

Louisianagirl · 06-18-2007, 04:41 PM

I am 5 months posts, I started losing more hair than I used to but, not enough to really complain about because I have very thick hair. I just started taking a hair vitamin this week but I also need to increase my protein. I have been lacking on that!

GayleTX · 06-18-2007, 07:07 PM

Hair loss is not nearly as much an issue with LAP-BAND® as it is with gastric bypass....GB people don't absorb nutrients because their intestines have been rearranged. LB's still have all their 'innards' in the right place and down have a malabsorption problem. However, since we don't eat much and eat a limited diet, hair loss can happen if you don't hit the protein like you need to.....80-100 grams/day. It's hard to get that much since we can't eat much, but you can do it easily with good protein supplements. Find some you love and plan to use it the rest of your life.

I'm 15 mo. out and my hair is thicker and healthier than it's been in many years....also have good strong fingernails that no longer crack. It's probably a combination of high protein and being able to come off all my medications that I've been on for many years (blood pressure, diabetes, etc).

WASaBubbleButt · 06-19-2007, 05:49 AM

Hair loss happens with a great many people that have had anesthesia regardless of type of surgery. IOW, even those not getting WLS seem to lose their hair.

The upside to this is that if you do start losing it, it will grow back.

kyethra · 06-19-2007, 09:06 PM

In addition to good nutrition, there are other things you can do for your hair as well. You can make sure you don't wash it more than necessary, like no more than 2-3 times a week. It might take your scalp a couple of weeks or so to adjust to the change, but it will. Do not use heat, no blow dryers, irons, curlers, etc. Use detangler and conditioner. Do NOT brush hair that is wet. Be nice to it. Only use a big comb on wet hair. When detangling hair start first with a wide tooth comb and start at the bottom, working the way up, then a small comb, then a brush. You can oil the ends if you need to. Jojoba oil and coconut oil and also olive oil work well on hair. Be nice to it. Braid it loosley at bed time. Deep moisturize once a fortnight or so. Sleep on satin pillowcases if you feel so inclined. Some like biotin for hair. I take a vitamin that helps hair and nails-- it has B and biotin in high levels. And of course, tons of that protein. Make a high protein shake part of your daily calorie plan! And take a calium with it to help prevent osteoporosis while you are at it (thats something I always have to remind myself to do, but I know its good for me).

Oregondaisy · 06-19-2007, 09:12 PM

I take Biotin and all the supplements they told me to
be sure to take to avoid hair loss.

I was told it would happen between 4-5 months and
that's exactly when it started. I have really thick hair
too, but it still bothers me. I hope it stops soon.

I have been careful about my protein up until now when
it's been a lot harder to eat. Since my 3rd fill, it's much
more difficult to get that protein in. I do drink a protein
shake every day. I am going to order some of the
Ungury unflavored protein to put in my food.

I really do think it's the anesthesia.

Jachut · 06-19-2007, 10:09 PM

I managed to avoid it by not being really tight or going below about 1500 calories a day - so I could eat from all food groups.

I'm not sure there's any real consensus on whether its certain nutrients that cause hairloss - protein is widely believed but low iron can also cause hairloss. Then there's biotin and zinc - personally if you're worried I'd take a specific hair, skin and nails supplement and try not to lose too fast or too drastically.

jackal1209 · 06-20-2007, 01:01 PM

Nutrition, nutrition, nutrition. About four to five months along on my journey, I noticed a LOT of hair in the sink in the mornings. I talked to my nutritionist who guided me back to the multi vitamin daily, and a protien bar with a higher protien content over the one I was already using, and it stopped within a week. No issues now. 2 years 3 months post op, totally at my three times adjusted goal, 220 pounds lost.
Life couldn't be better...

ReneeMarie · 06-20-2007, 01:29 PM

I have not been banded yet but I have had problems with my hair and nails for years. Probally from yoyo dieting and junk food. A good friend of mine suggested I try flax seed. I buy it in bulk at the health food store. I eat a tablespoon of flax seed everyday. Ground up in a small coffee grinder. I put it in a protien shake or eat it with my frozen berrys (Sam's has a really good berry blend) and yogurt. It taste nutty. Since I started using the flax seed my hair is shiny and is not falling out as much( I still shed, I find long silver hair on everything black I wear) And I have nails again for the first time since prenatal vitimans. Flax seed is high in the Omega 3 fats that are good for you. Hope this help you.:o
Renee

Jachut · 06-20-2007, 07:29 PM

I've not lost hair, but the condition of my hair has suffered. I've always had very changeable hair, total changes in colour and texture between teens and adulthood, changes after pregnancies, etc. I'm not sure whether it would have happened anyway but my hair is so frizzy now its almost uncontrollable.

Five years ago I could blow dry it straight and it would look OK, nowadays I require a 220 degrees celcius hair straightener to tame it - and its fine and frizzy not thick and frizzy so it straightens down to nothing and it doesnt hold the style overnight, so I have to do it every day. Sigh.

I'm sure it has something to do with the change in diet/hormones/etc in my body, its much more fragile and prone to breakage now.

Then again, I'm getting old, almost a whole 4 decades old now, perhaps its all downhill from here?

derbygirl · 06-20-2007, 08:58 PM

I worried a lot about hair loss before being banded and vowed to consume my 80 g. of protein each day, but my hair still falls out. I can't stand to not wash my hair every day, and I always blow dry, too. Fortunately, it's thick so the loss isn't noticeable. I mostly notice it being more "unmanageable" than anything. It kind of has a mind of its own. I think I started noticing it about 5 months out.

leedorr · 07-20-2007, 07:15 AM

I am a year out from being banded I did experience hair loss and I don't have a lot to lose! lol It was about 5 months out. My Dr. said it was a reaction to my weight loss and body changed taking place as a result of losing weight. I take hair vitamins and make sure I get my protein in no less that 60 more like 80 gms a day. Do ot worry, it is worth it in the end. My hair is coming back and is thicker than it has been since I had my children a long time ago. I am 59 and don't hav those hormones anymore. Relax and enjoy this new adventure!

Boo Boo Kitty · 07-20-2007, 07:26 AM

I lost a ton of hair for about 6 months starting at month 5 or so. I am almost 1 year and it has slowed down. I tried Biotin, and nutrition. Didn't help me that well. BUT it is better and I am feeling less freaked out. I did go out and get a nice cut to make it LOOK fuller too. That helped me feel less critical about myself.

Carmel · 07-20-2007, 07:32 AM

I was just banded on Tuesday and I have to admit that the hair loss thing has me a little freaked out. My hair is really, really fine and very thin already. I did lose some hair last year after gall bladder surgery but it stopped after about 2 months. I'm using Nioxin shampoo. The polycystic ovaries is a factor too.

So Biotin and protein are key? I'll look into that and chat with the dietician when I see her in August.