Hair Loss After Gastric Bypass: Tips For Losing Less And Regrowing More Faster

One of the biggest concerns many people have – especially ladies – about having gastric bypass surgery is hair loss.

It can be very traumatic to see clumps of hair in the shower drain, or to run your fingers through your hair and come out with a handful. Especially since for many of us, our hair was one of the few things we really liked about ourselves before surgery.

We wonder: How much hair will I lose? Will I go bald or have bald spots? And how quickly will it grow back?

Most importantly: What can I do to minimize hair loss and maximize regrowth?

How To Minimize Hair Loss After Gastric Bypass Surgery

Since the biggest reason we lose hair after surgery seems to be a lack of nutrients getting to our hair follicles, then it makes sense that getting more nutrients to our hair will minimize hair loss.

Nothing will keep you from losing any hair at all. Even without weight loss surgery, you lose a certain number of hairs every day. Afterwards, you’re going to lose more. It cannot be prevented.

But there are things you can do that seem to help. First off, be sure you’re getting all of your protein. We recommended 60 grams or more a day. We've found 80 to be a better number, both for weight loss and for your hair. (Many other doctors recommend 80 as a minimum.)

Hair is built with protein. That’s what it’s made of. So making sure you’re taking in enough protein will help keep your hair healthy. At least, healthier.

The two most effective supplements for hair regrowth (at least according to the buzz on WLS forums and message boards) are Silica by Puritans Pride and Biotin.

The two most effective supplements for hair regrowth (at least according to the buzz on WLS forums and message boards) are Silica by Puritans Pride and Biotin.

The bottom line is that you’re going to lose some hair after gastric bypass surgery. But you really can minimize that loss, and help regrowth happen faster by taking good care of your hair.

 

Why We Lose Hair After Weight Loss Surgery

First of all, everyone loses hair every day as part of the natural cycle of hair growth.

But after weight loss surgery, our bodies are forced to live on drastically lower amounts of calories. To compensate for the reduction, all the remaining nutrients are channeled to the organs that need them most. And our hair isn’t one of them.

So suddenly, our hair must do without the nutrients it needs to grow. And it also has to compensate for that loss. It sends more strands into “resting” phases and temporarily suspends production of new strands.

Not to mention the fact that hormones go haywire after surgery and while all that fat is being metabolized. That just doesn’t help matters.

The upshot: hair starts falling out.