After WLS: Silica Vitamin Helps Slow Hair Loss

The question of hair loss comes up all the time in the LivingAfterWLS community. Is there anything we can do to prevent hair loss or at least decrease the severity of it?

Some bariatric centers say there is nothing to be done, that patients have to just live with the hair loss as part of the gastric bypass experience. Other centers say a diet of 70g. protein a day will prevent hair loss. Still other centers recommend taking a daily multi-vitamin and supplemental vitamins intended to improve hair health. I believe in taking a supplemental vitamin that contains silica which is known to improve the health, texture and volume of hair.

Hair loss usually occurs in the fourth of fifth month following weight loss surgery. During the phase of rapid weight loss, caloric intake is marginal. This puts the body in a state of panic called starvation. A healthy body normally sheds ten percent of hair follicles at any given time. When a body is starving roughly thirty to forty percent of hair follicles are sacrificed as the body channels nutrition to more vital areas. During this phase hair loss is dramatic, often patients find clumps of hair on the shower floor. Remaining hair becomes drab and lifeless.

I knew hair loss was a potential result of weight loss surgery, but because I'm a "cup-half-full" person, I didn't believe that hair loss would happen to me! That just happens to other people, I told myself! Imagine my surprise when my blonde locks were littering the bathroom floor like hair saloon

The hair loss is a transient effect of your gastric bypass surgery and will be resolved when nutrition and weight stabilize. Many patients report favorable results from taking a silica tablet that contains calcium, magnesium, zinc, boron, betaine and horsetail extract. Usually this vitamin and mineral supplement is marketed under the "healthy skin, hair and nails" category at vitamin stores and discount stores.

This is a large vitamin - I call it "the big ugly" and for new post-ops it will be nearly impossible to swallow. The pill can be split with a sharp kitchen knife or purchase a pill splitter at the drugstore. As always, check with your bariatric center if you are newly post-op before taking any nutritional supplement or medication.

Kaye Bailey © 2005 - All Rights Reserved

An award winning journalist and former newspaper editor Kaye Bailey brings expertise in writing and personal experience with gastric bypass surgery to EzineArticles.com. Having spent most of her life overweight Ms. Bailey is strongly empathetic toward the obese, particularly overweight children. This compassion compelled her to found the website http://www.livingafterwls.com, a fast-growing resource of information, understanding and support for the weight loss surgery community.

The LivingAfterWLS.com site is complimented with daily blog. The blog, http://livingafterwls.blogspot.com offers readers the chance to comment or leave feedback about fresh content added daily. This site contains success stories and recipes, general information and WLS inspired topics. Complementing the site is a monthly newsletter titled "You Have Arrived" available exclusively to people who subscribe through the website or the blog.

---

What! Female Hair Loss Treatments!

Many people think that hair loss is a male problem,... Read More

Pubic Hair Shave Decision

Whether you are a guy or a girl, shaving your... Read More

A Guide to Hair Loss Products

Hair loss is a genetic/hormonal process that can affect both... Read More

Guide to Shaving Pubic Hair

Getting the decision to start shaving your pubic hair is... Read More

The Causes of Hair Loss

Very few people, especially those suffering from alopecia, or balding,... Read More

Warning: Do NOT Take A Hair Loss Test Until Youve Read This...

You know the scene. You've got thinning hair, and you... Read More

Carefully Scrutinize The Hair Transplant Cost Before You Commit

Hair transplant cost is quite high so before you commit... Read More

Finding Hair Loss Treatments That Fit Within Your Budget

Hair loss treatments can be very expensive and although most... Read More

Latest Techniques Deliver Painless Hair Transplants

The recent development of improved hair transplant techniques ensures that... Read More

Alopecia Areata and Hair loss: What Does Aloe Vera Have to Do with It

A disease of unknown cause in which well-defined bald patches... Read More

A Look at Hair Loss Remedies

Hair loss causes a great deal of stress and anxiety.... Read More

Laser Hair Removal

There are many different techniques to remove unwanted hair. Some... Read More

How To Reduce Stress That Causes Hair Loss and Bad Hair

Your hair will be radiant and shining if you are... Read More

The Truth About Hair Loss

Male Pattern BaldnessOn average, there are 90,000 to 150,000 hairs... Read More

A Look at Male Hair Loss

At a research study held in a university in Norfolk,... Read More

Hair Loss: Getting to the Root of the Problem

It's fair to say when you started losing your hair... Read More

Do Traditional Hair Loss Remedies Have Any Relevance Today?

Could it be possible that our ancestors got it right... Read More

Female Hair Growth Products For Females With Thinning Hair

Women have problems with thinning hair and baldness, just as... Read More

Is Hair Loss Shampoo Any Good For Me?

There are many shampoos on the market that are advertised... Read More

Natural Hair Loss Treatment

A few years ago there were no "official" natural hair... Read More

Are Your Searching In Vain For The Causes of Hair Loss?

Trying to find out what causes hair to fall out... Read More

Find Out The Latest Methods Of Hair Loss Prevention

Since baldness is hereditary, many people think that there are... Read More

Coping With Male Pattern Baldness

Androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness) is by far the most... Read More

Waxing Instructions -- Waxing with Soft Wax

Waxing is the one of the best, oldest and most... Read More

Permanent Hair Removal Treatment

If you are getting 'harried' by unwanted hair, if you... Read More

Herbal Hair Loss Remedies For External Use

In a separate article in this series we looked at... Read More

What Condition Is Your Hair In?

Our hair can be categorized in three different ways:HealthyDryDamaged Characteristics of... Read More

You Need To Know The Possible Hair Loss Causes

Hair loss causes range from simple to complex. Some of... Read More

Treatment Options Available To Hair Loss Sufferers

The hair loss treatments outlined here cannot provide definitive cures... Read More

Are There Really Vitamins For Hair Loss?

While there are vitamins you can take for healthy hair... Read More

Female Hair Loss:

Research shows that up to two thirds of women experience... Read More

Laser Hair Removal: Am I a Good Candidate? What Do I Need to Know?

How Laser Hair Removal worksA laser emits an invisible beam... Read More

Ayurveda Can Help Stop Hair Loss

Most hair loss sufferers seek solutions from Western medicine or... Read More