You’re starting to see excellent results from your bariatric surgery, but now you’re losing more than just your weight — you’re also losing your hair. For many, hair is a core part of their identity, and even when it starts to thin as we get older, our self-esteem is affected. Hair loss after bariatric surgery is expected — here’s how to deal with it.
But first: why are you losing your hair?
Undergoing something like weight loss surgery is going to have an incredibly positive impact on your body and life in the long run, which is why you chose to have it, right? While you may be battling through the odd cravings of foods from your life pre-surgery, you’re now also battling hair loss and this can give some people a fright.
The truth is that this was expected: you put your body under an enormous amount of stress through surgery and a drastic change to the architecture of your digestive system. Additionally, your new diet now includes way less food in general, but may also contain less protein than what you were consuming prior. A deficiency in protein means your hair is not getting one of its most vital nutrients to grow healthily, and the follicles are becoming damaged. You may also be missing vitamins such as vitamin B6, zinc, and potassium which are all critical to healthy hair growth.
How to deal with hair loss after bariatric surgery
Brushing or washing your hair and seeing chunks come out in your hands is undoubtedly an alarming experience. Your hair is part of what makes up who you are and how you present yourself to the world. The best thing you can do for yourself is to follow the strict diet and supplement program administered to you by your nutrition team post-surgery. Ensure that you are:
- Including 60-80 grams of protein in your diet each day
- Including protein in every meal or snack you have in the day
- Consider powder protein supplements to help you meet your daily protein goal
- Take the supplements your doctor recommends to you post-surgery
- Consume a wide variety of nutrient-rich foods every day
We understand that losing your hair can initiate feelings of insecurity. The version of yourself after bariatric surgery is someone you’re still coming to terms with and it can be an emotional rollercoaster at times. We always recommend support groups to our patients who can speak with like-minded individuals about similar problems, after going through weight loss surgery themselves — it is a drastic life change, after all, and having support makes navigating the change a bit easier.
Fear not! Your hair will grow back and we’re here for you for any questions or concerns you may have. If you’re seriously concerned or need to discuss your nutrition program, feel free to reach out to anyone on our team — we’ll help you work through any questions or worries you may have.