Hair loss after bariatric surgery is a common condition that most people experience after undergoing bariatric surgery. Hair loss after bariatric surgery usually starts abruptly and lasts for a period of about 6 months.
At any given time, about 5-15% of our hair is at the resting phase. Due to stress to the body and hormonal changes after undergoing bariatric surgery, more hair follicles can enter into the resting phase. The hair in the resting phase at the time of the surgery is most likely the hair that will be shed.
Other possible causes of hair loss after bariatric surgery include very low-calorie intake, low protein, iron deficiency, underlying illnesses, zinc deficiency and deficiencies of other essential nutrients.
There are different ways to prevent hair loss after bariatric surgery. These include:
Stress after the surgery is one of the major causes of hair loss. Having a good rest and relaxing for a while can help prevent hair loss. It can also aid a quick regrow of hair.
Dietary prescription from your dietician can help improve or prevent hair loss after undergoing bariatric surgery. Your dietician will prescribe the needed nutritional supplements to prevent excess loss of essential nutrients. Taking protein in every meal every day can help prevent hair loss.
Visiting your primary healthcare provider immediately after your surgery is important. Your primary healthcare provider will evaluate you for any illness or non-nutritional reasons for hair loss. If you have any conditions that may cause hair loss, your healthcare provider will provide the best treatment.
Taking iron medications and supplements can help prevent hair loss especially if you’re iron deficient.
After undergoing bariatric surgery, you’re likely to lose essential vitamins such as B vitamins, folate, and biotin. Replenish lost vitamins by taking bariatric specific multi-vitamins prescribed by your doctor.
Loss of hair after bariatric surgery normally lasts for a period of about 6 months. After this period your hair will start to grow back. It is important to take essential vitamins and nutrients to aid the growth of hair and prevent hair thinning.
After undergoing bariatric surgery, your hairs fall for a period of up to 6 months. Hair loss will continue until all the hairs that have entered into the telogen phase fall out. In the absence of dietary deficiencies or complications, hair loss rarely lasts for more than six months. Hair follicles are not damaged in telogen effluvium, which allows the hair to grow back. With time and keeping to a good nutritional intake, your hair will grow back in no more than 6 months.
Iron deficiency is a nutrient that is most highly correlated with hair loss. After undergoing a bariatric surgery you lose essential nutrients including iron. Taking iron supplements and medications can help hair loss and aid hair growth after bariatric surgery.
Another important nutrient that helps hair loss after bariatric surgery is protein. There have been reports of protein deficiencies after bariatric surgeries. Pancreatic enzymes that aid in protein digestion are redirected to a lower part of the small intestine. The amount of protein in the body is significantly reduced and this causes hair loss.
Taking protein supplements and eating foods that contains proteins every day can help increase the amount of protein in your body which helps to prevent hair loss.
Also, zinc deficiency also leads to hair loss after bariatric surgery. Taking diets that contain zinc can help hair loss after bariatric surgery.
There are also essential vitamins and nutrients such as B vitamins, amino acids, biotin, folate, and essential fatty acids that you should include in your diet to help hair loss after bariatric surgery.
After gastric sleeve, it is important to supplement your biotin intake to aid hair growth. The recommended biotin intake per day is within 2000 to 5000 mg per day to strengthen your hair shafts and aid hair growths. It is advisable to talk to your primary healthcare provider to know the exact amount of biotin that is best for you.
Instead of undergoing bariatric surgery and experiencing several side effects including hair loss, it is recommended to choose a more safer and efficient alternative. Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty is a more safer and efficient weight loss alternative with minimal side effects like hair loss.
Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) is a nonsurgical noninvasive outpatient weight loss procedure that involves the use of sutures to reduce the size of your stomach. It does not involve any incisions and you will be out of the hospital the same day after the procedure. Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty doesn’t cause any serious side effects or complications like hair loss. Even if your nutrient and calorie intake reduce, your hair will still continue to grow after the procedure. It is a safer weight loss procedure than bariatric weight loss surgeries.
Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty is a non-invasive nonsurgical weight loss procedure with many advantages over bariatric surgery. It is a safer procedure with minimal side effects as compared with bariatric surgery. ESG only involves placing of sutures into your stomach to shrink and reduce the size of your stomach to limit food intake. It doesn’t involve incisions or cutting off some parts of the stomach. Bariatric surgery involves cutting off some parts of the stomach. Bariatric surgery is deeply invasive and comes with several severe side effects including hair loss.
It is medically advisable to undergo ESG instead of bariatric surgery. ESG is a better alternative with minimal side effects, no incisions or scars, shorter downtime, quicker recovery time, and lower cost.
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