Bariatric Surgery and Hair Loss

Hair Loss is a very common after effect for the person who goes thorough bariatric surgery. But why does it happen? Is there any way to prevent them? The best hair transplant clinic in Kolkata can put some light on these questions.

Bariatric Surgery is known as the collective gastric bypass and weight loss surgery which is done by changing your gastric system to help you lose weight. Bariatric surgery is done to those people who cannot lose weight by diet or any form of exercise and have serious health issues due to weight. Some procedures limit how much you can eat. Other procedures work by reducing the body's ability to absorb nutrients. Some procedures do both.

To keep one thing in mind, all weight loss surgeries do have some side effects and bariatric surgery is no exception. Permanent change in healthy diet and regular exercise should be implemented post-surgery to ensure long term benefit of bariatric surgery.

Theory behind hair loss after bariatric surgery:

It’s very common to have hair loss after bariatric surgery. All of us want to have a great shape with great hair. The hair loss associated with bariatric surgery is called telogen effluvium which is related to the normal hair growth cycle.

This lasts not more than 1-6months. The human hair has two phase in the hair growth cycle. The growth phase is called anagen phase and 90% of our hair follicles stay in this phase at any given time. The resting phase is called telogen phase which lasts around 3months on average and5-15% of our hair follicles stay in this phase.

If you’re having stress it is most likely going to play a role in the telogen effluvium and hormonal changes. This is important because the hair in the resting phase at the time of surgery is most likely the hair you will shed.

This is why your hair sheds between 1 to 6 months after surgery (usually about 3 to 4 months). When the hair starts to grow again the old hair follicle is released and you lose hair. Sometimes the hair comes out before new hair grows!

Common reasons behind Hair Fall after Bariatric Surgery:

Surgery, acute illness, trauma

Chronic disease such as liver disease or any chronic debilitating disease

Hormonal imbalance such as hypothyroidism

Crash dieting, low protein intake, anorexia, chronic iron deficiency

Heavy metal toxicity

Medications such as beta-blockers, excess vitamin A and anticoagulants

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS HAIR LOSS DUE TO BARIATRIC SURGERY IS NOT PERMANENT UNTIL AND UNLESS YOU HAVE A CHRONIC ILLNESS.

Things can be done to prevent hair loss:

Relax and don’t worry. It is natural hair loss of 5-15% of your hair due to the stress of surgery and weight loss. It rarely lasts more than 6 months. It grows back.

Visit your primary care doctor to be evaluated for any illness or non-nutritional reason for hair loss such as thyroid disease or other chronic illnesses.

Follow our dietary prescription which calls for limited calories and exceptional diverse protein intake on a daily basis. DO NOT add a lot of protein and increase your calories so much that you sabotage your weight loss. We suggest a protein supplement that is low in sugar.

Take a bariatric specific multi-vitamin with adequate B vitamins, folate, zinc and biotin. Don’t forget your B12 and calcium citrate with vitamin D supplements.

Avoid excessive vitamin A and high dose zinc supplements they are both potentially harmful.

Add iron if you are iron deficient based on your lab findings in consultation with your healthcare provider.