Gastric Bypass Causes Hair Loss: Can It Be Avoided?

Surprisingly, hair loss is one of the reasons female pre-operative patients sit on the fence before deciding to have gastric bypass surgery. Obese people, particularly obese women, often have lush gorgeous hair. Of course they do ? it's well fed and nourished! How many of us have been described as the woman with "beautiful hair and a pretty face"? What person in their right mind would give up one of their beautiful features?

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. Think about the pictures of prisoners of war. Most victims of this atrocity are without hair because they are literally starving to death. 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. I shed some tears over that.

The hair loss is a transient effect of your gastric bypass surgery and will be resolved when nutrition and weight stabilize. When my hair began falling out, my husband, who has been a proponent of vitamin supplements all his life, found a vitamin specifically formulated for building strong healthy hair. The vitamin I take for healthy hair and nails is Silica Complex by Puritan's PrideÒ. It contains calcium, magnesium, zinc, boron, betaine and horsetail extract. Consumption of this supplement almost immediately retarded my hair loss and renewed my dull lifeless hair. I will continue taking this supplement throughout my life. Three years after surgery my hair is long, full and lustrous ? one would never know I had suffered significant hair loss. In hindsight, I would certainly begin taking this supplement prior to my surgery. In the very least I would begin taking it soon after surgery before the signs of hair loss were apparent.

Copyright © 2005 Kaye Bailey - All Rights Reserved.

Kaye Bailey is a weight loss surgery success story having maintained her health and goal weight for 5+ years. An award winning journalist, she is the author and webmaster of http://www.livingafterwls.com and http://www.livingafterwls.blogspot.com - Fresh & insightful content is added daily, check in often.

---

Protein Diet - What Does It Mean For Your Body?

To really understand the impact of a protein diet, it's... Read More

Fat Burning Tips

These fat burning tips can help you discover a fat... Read More

Anorexia - a Game of Control!

Low self-esteem produces a game of control. It causes a... Read More

Acupuncture Weight Loss -- Does it Work?

Acupuncture for weight loss is a modern application of this... Read More

Using The Glycemic Index To Lose Weight After Pregnancy

The vast majority of postpartum women will not return to... Read More

Close Kept Secrets to Weight Loss Lesson #4

How's the practicing going? Are you spending time each day... Read More

Fitness: Getting Started

It seems like everywhere you turn, there is someone trying... Read More

Change Your Habits for Effective and Long Term Weight Loss

More likely than not a diet with end up a... Read More

Losing Weight: Healthier Wallet

Lose Weight - Get A Break The American Obesity... Read More

7 Strategies To Stop Eating Junk Food!

FACT: Obesity accounts for 300,000 deaths a year in the... Read More

Catching Yourself In A Binge or Compulsive Eating: Stopping Behaviors

Oh, no . . . You suddenly realize that you... Read More

The One and Only Way to Lose Weight

There is only one way to lose weightThere really is... Read More

Weight Loss Doesnt Work

Your brain has this really interesting system that is kind... Read More

Simple Weight Loss Plan

The math is pretty simple. One pound of fat equals... Read More

Half of our Nation is Overweight!

Experts say obesity will overtake smoking as the biggest health... Read More

Simple Plans for Social Eating and Travel

It's one thing to stick with your diet regimen when... Read More

Fad Diets & Weight Loss

A diet may be a fad diet or a healthy... Read More

Summer Dieting Tips

Cut the Calories, Bring Out the BikiniSummer's almost here and... Read More

Read Food Labels To Lose Weight

I was at the grocery store the other day, doing... Read More

Weight Loss And Nutrition Myths ? What You Need To Know! Part 1

MYTH: Fad diets work for permanent weight loss.FACT: Fad diets... Read More

Staying Toned After Weight Loss

Staying Toned After Weight Loss Following significant weight loss,... Read More

Can Caffeine Tights Beat Cellulite?

At around £350 pounds a treatment, Lipo-Dissolve the so called... Read More

Online Weight Loss - Fact or Farce?

Over the past 5 years, online weight loss programs have... Read More

Resistance Training First; Fat Burning Second for Weight Loss

Most men and women that I have trained over the... Read More

Spot Reducing is For The Laundry

· Can you give me an exercise that will get... Read More

A Soda a Day: How is it Affecting Your Weight?

Many people limit themselves to one soda a day especially... Read More

Measuring and Monitoring Your Bodyfat: Improves Overall Health

With so many diets and fads being offered on the... Read More

Tuna and Water Diet

Ready for a hardcore diet to get lean in a... Read More

Three Sure-Fire Ways To Lose Weight Get Healthier & Feel Great Without Dieting

--ONE--Learn how to reduce the fat, sugar and salt content... Read More

High School Algebra Finally Pays Off: The Body Fat Equation

When approaching your goals for a better you, every game... Read More

The Practical Way to Lose Fat

Today's society is about speed. We no longer have to... Read More

Forget All About That Calorie Counting Crap And Learn How To Lose Some Weight!

That's a pretty "in your face" statement, but really it's... Read More

Solution to Obesity

First of all we need to find out a reason... Read More