I'm almost 2 1/2 years out from my surgery, and a problem has arisen again. For some reason I'm starting to lose my hair again.

I've been taking 5000mg of biotin since my surgery. I was told that I should be also taking silicia complex and fish oil tablets.

I have no problem with taking those things, but I would like to know how much I should be taking, and how often? I am considering Rogaine, but I wonder if the men's extra strength might be better than the women's formula??

Hi Rhonda! Have you ever used Nioxin hair products? I hve been using them since just after surgery(2003) and between them, biotin, and other supplements I no longer have this issue....notice I said "no longer", it took years for my hair to get back to normal...was wls related as well as other surgeries over the course of about 2 yrs....anesthesia will make you lose your hair as well... The Nioxin products are available @ Trade Secret and other Regis Corporation salons. it's a bit pricey but WELL worth it because now my hair is in great shape (according to my stylist).

My other question would be, are you eating enough protein??? If not this could be an issue....

Hope you find the info you need here! Have you checked out the library, lots of info there....
Blessings!

Hi Rhonda and Amelia!

Nioxin is a great product. I am a hair dresser and I have seen this product work wonders. It is a product that you will see results with as long as you are using it, but the benefits will be diminished if you discontinue it's use.

It works like fertilizer for our soil, giving the ground all the needed nutrients to grow the most effective garden.

This is what Nioxin does for your hair. It rids the scalp of toxins and adds the vitamins and nutrients in order for the scalp to have the best conditions to grow hair. In turn the healthy scalp help support and feed the hair follicles to grow healthy tresses.

One of the most important products Nioxin uses is the product called Scalp Therapy. It is a product used after washing and conditioning the hair. It is used as a scalp revitalizer that actually flushes the skin of the scalp which helps bring the blood flow of the scalp closer to the outer layers of skin. Blood flow feeds the actual hair follicle. Tension and stress and toxins and more constrict the blood flow to the head and reduces our hair follicles food. Medicines, nutrition and overall health have a big affect on our hair. It is no secret that we as WLS patients fight an uphill battle for WHILE.

Nioxin has products for regular and colored hair. Spendy, but if you are worried it will give you some peace of mind.

Hope that helps!

Hi Rhonda ---

Here is our article and endorsement on hair loss: WLS & Hair Loss


It is day-by-day for me: but this is how I manage my hair loss and 'hope for the best'!

Hi Rhonda

I read Kaye's article and I have to agree wholeheartedly that Silica is a great product. I started taking it 6 weeks pre-op in liquid form and changed to the pills about 1 month post op. At about 4 months post-op I did start noticing my hair falling out a bit more than normal but I only had to clear the plug in the shower twice. More hair in the hair brush and on the bathroom vanity continued for about 6 weeks and I did notice my hair was a bit lacking in body (not that I had much to start with) but now nearly 7 months post op I must admit I think my hair loss is behind me. So I agree with the silica option totally. Oh, and I've always been able to manage high protein meals so I guess that helped too. I also changed to a top quality shampoo and conditioner 6 weeks pre-op.

So this is of some help.

Barbara

How many tablets do you take a day? I know that she also mentioned fish oil and also the biotin.

I have noticed over the 5 yrs since my surgery my hair has come and gone and come and gone as it wanted too. I too need something to keep it more here rather than gone. thanks for the info.

This seems to be an area I'm interested in. What should one take to decrease the amount of hair one will lose during this time?? I did at one time have a ton it has thinned out since then. Do you take protein, Silica, Calcium, GNC products WHAT!! I want to stop it before it gets too thin. J

Hi everyone,

Two questions...

What is/are the best Nioxin products to get? I spoke to my sister-in-law who works for Loreal, and she says she can get it for me, but what dod I want... I have no idea. What does everyone recommend? My surgery was June 2007 and I am still in the weight loss phase. Even pre-surgery I had a tendency to lose hair, now I'm just losing it faster.

She did give me a 6-week course of Kerastase Intervention Antichute Aminexil. The box was damaged so it couldn't be sold, so she just gave it to me. Given that it is REALLY!!!! expensive, has anyone else tried this? and what did they think of it? I ask just because I have't seen it mentioned on here.

I am taking Blackmores Nails, Hair & Skin as it includes Biotin. My nails were looking really YUK, so I was hoping that these would help both nails and hair... two for the price of one, so to speak.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks

Paula

I lost a ton of hair at around 4 months after surgery, mainly because for the first 3 months I could NOT tolerate my protein shakes due to horrible nausea. Well the hair loss turned that all around for me and I faithfully use 3 shakes daily that contain 25 grams of whey isolate protein and I take 5000 mcg of Biotin daily also. My hair loss has stopped completely and after just having my blood work done last week my protein level is now completely normal. So are all my other levels! I believe the combo of protein and Biotin is they key to my hair regrowing. I have a bunch of different hair lengths but I just got my hair cut into a bunch of different layers so you can't tell and I had a ton of hair to start out with. Oh you can buy the Biotin 5000mcg at Walmart for less than $8 so it is well worth it. Just remember to take ALL of your supplements including your multi-vitamin religiously. Hope this helps.

PS My stylist also reccomended the Nioxin to any GBS patient, so I am gonna check that out just to get my hair in the Best health possible.

Paula - I just went to their site www.nioxin.com , and they even have a little questionaire you can do to suggest the best product for you (at least for the scalp therapy)

Thanks everyone for the info..I'm going to try and stay ahead of the hair loss here...

I'm 6 weeks post-op and had my check up with my doctor yesterday. I asked him about taking biotin for hair loss (or anticipation of). He said it probably wasn't worth the money because I was going to have some amount of hair loss no matter what ,but that it would be temporary. Now, I'm not sure what I should do. I'm keeping my protein levels up to at least 60g per day and taking all my other supplements.

Oh, what to do?? What to do??

Jean

Hair Loss has been the worst thing for me. I'm over two years post-op and my hair still hasn't returned and is still falling out and what has grown back is now dark and curly. LOL. Part of it I'm sure is menopause/hormone related (I'm in my fifties) and I also have female pattern baldness in my family, so all that long glorious red hair I had in 2005 is now gone. sniff. Most of the time I wear a wig now when I go out. I probably am not getting all my protein either. I have continued to lose weight all the way past my two year mark (another twelve pounds for a total 135 pound weight loss and now weigh 122 which I never did before in my life) . I don't eat anymore and when I do eat, it isn't always protein I consume. So I am interested in ideas also that have helped other people regain their hair. I may have to accept that my hair was the price I had to pay to lose weight, which still would not have changed my decision to have the surgery in the first place.

Hi Melody! SO good to see you again.

I use biotin and it helps. Not dramatically, but a little. I do believe in getting at least 70g. protein per day though. If I can't eat enough, I'll have a protein shake for insurance.

Good luck and keep posting!

In addition to what has been said - mine goes in cycles.

It is what it is...

I was told that for some (me) It was a reaction to the anesthesia.
It started when I had a previous surgery for my hysterectomy, 10 years prior...
Oh, plus my mom's genes didn't help
lots of factors.

Hope you find peace.