For many women, the risk of post-gastric bypass hair loss is a major risk to be considered. After gastric bypass surgery, the size of the stomach is significantly reduced and the amount of calories consumed every day are limited. Because the calories are limited, many gastric bypass patients experience nutritional deficiencies post-surgery. When the body is missing nutrients and vitamins, the body redirects the available nutrients to vital organs and areas of the body like hair follicles can suffer.
Every day people loose hair, and a healthy body stimulates the hair follicles to produce new hair to replace the hair loss. After surgery, when patients are likely undernourished (in that they are lacking in vitamins) 40-50% of hair could be lost.
Hair loss after gastric bypass surgery is usually temporary and as the body adjusts to a lower calorie intake and balances the vitamins and minerals in the body, hair growth is stimulated and any missing hair is regrown.
To prevent hair loss, maintaining a healthy level of vitamins and minerals will protect the hair follicles. Vitamin B-12, iron and protein deficiencies have been linked to post weight loss surgery hair loss. Your surgeon will discuss with you the supplements available to prevent vitamin deficiencies and a nutritionist can help you adjust your diet to provide your body with the energy it needs.
Occasionally, hair loss is permanent after gastric bypass surgery. If patients do experience balding and the hair does not return once the body has adjusted to the reduced calories intake, many people turn to hair transplantation to restore their hair.
