Hair loss after gastric bypass surgery
Overweight people struggling with health problems often opt for gastric bypass surgery. Like any other surgical procedure, this procedure carries certain side effects and risks. Hair loss after gastric bypass is one of the side effects that can occur. If the bald patches are permanent, a hair transplant can enable a new, full head of hair.
Table of contents
- Why can hair loss occur after gastric bypass?
- How does a deficiency affect hair growth?
- Is hair loss after gastric bypass permanent?
- A hair transplant ensures new hair growth
- Conclusion: A hair transplant ensures new hair growth after gastric bypass
Why can hair loss occur after gastric bypass?
Gastric bypass surgery is also called bariatric surgery:
- This is a surgical procedure in which a large part of the stomach and a piece of the small intestine are removed
- The remaining stomach and small intestine are then connected
- This results in the food passage being significantly shortened, which means that less food can be digested
- A classic side effect after such a gastric bypass operation is hair loss
- This form of hair loss is called telogen effluvium, the resting phase in the growth cycle
- Effluvium means increased hair loss; in people who have undergone bariatric surgery, hair loss can be caused by various factors
- This includes, in particular, fasting and the associated low calorie intake
- Hormonal disorders that occur due to gastric bypass surgery and the stress caused by the procedure can also contribute to hair loss.
- However, the main cause of hair loss after gastric bypass is the lack of iron and other important nutrients.
How does a deficiency affect hair growth?
Hair roots require a constant supply of various nutrients and oxygen to grow healthily. If this supply is insufficient over an extended period of time, or even completely interrupted, it has a very negative impact on hair growth.
Which nutrients are important for hair health?
For healthy growth, hair roots need sufficient iron:
- Iron is mainly found in animal foods such as liver, but can also be found in legumes or wheat bran
- In addition, a sufficient amount of biotin is essential for healthy hair
- Biotin, also known as the hair vitamin, is found in nuts, rice, egg yolk, and yeast, among other things.
- Zinc is significantly involved in the formation of keratin and is found almost exclusively in animal foods such as meat, eggs, milk or cheese
- In addition, further vitamins and trace elements are needed to maintain healthy hair growth
What should be considered after gastric bypass surgery?
After bariatric surgery, adequate iron intake is very important to ensure that hair growth returns to normal.
- Approximately 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight should be taken per day
- Because very little can be eaten after gastric bypass surgery, it is almost impossible to get the required amount through food
- Protein powder helps to cover the daily requirement, but vitamins and healthy omega-3 fatty acids should also be taken in sufficient quantities
- In particular, folic acid, biotin, zinc, calcium citrate, B vitamins and vitamin D ensure that the hair can grow healthily again
- Generally, people have to resort to nutritional supplements after such an operation, as the food no longer passes through a part of the small intestine that is specifically responsible for the absorption of micronutrients.
Is hair loss after gastric bypass permanent?
The good news is that hair loss after such surgery is usually only temporary. Hair loss usually stops on its own after six months at the latest.
- It is completely normal for 5 to 15 percent of hair to fall out after the procedure
- In some cases, significantly more hair may be lost
- However, with a sufficient supply of nutrients through dietary supplements, hair loss usually regenerates
However, the lack of nutrients after surgery can also be so severe that the hair roots die permanently. If this happens, the affected roots can never produce new hair growth . The hair loss is therefore permanent.
A hair transplant ensures new hair growth
However, you don't have to live with permanent hair loss. A hair transplant ensures that new hair can grow even in bald patches. For this purpose, follicular units are removed from a suitable donor area of your scalp. This procedure is performed under local anesthesia and is therefore very painless. After removal, the grafts are placed in a special nutrient solution to prepare them for transplantation. The grafts are then implanted into the areas of the scalp affected by hair loss. Elithair uses the proven FUE method for this, which enables very precise transplantation and creates a natural-looking result. New hair begins to grow just a few weeks after the hair implantation. Around one year after the operation, you can admire the final result in the mirror. Hair transplantation is the only truly effective and permanent solution for hair loss after gastric bypass, which does not resolve on its own.
Conclusion: A hair transplant ensures new hair growth after gastric bypass
Overweight people often opt for gastric bypass surgery to minimize health risks and regain some quality of life. However, hair loss often occurs after the operation. Hair loss after gastric bypass is due to a nutritional deficiency, as the body is no longer able to absorb much food. This particularly leads to a deficiency in iron and various vitamins. People who have undergone gastric bypass surgery usually have to take lifelong nutritional supplements to ensure an adequate supply of nutrients. Generally, hair loss after this type of surgery is not permanent and resolves naturally. However, bald patches sometimes remain on the scalp. These permanent bald patches can be filled with a hair transplant .