Does Gastric Sleeve Cause Hair Loss?

Finding more hair than usual in your brush a few months after surgery can be upsetting. It is also one of the most common changes people notice after a gastric sleeve. Here is why it happens, how long it tends to last, and what you can do about it.

How common is it?

Very common. In a 2021 review of 18 studies with more than 2,500 people, more than half reported hair loss after weight-loss surgery. It was more common in younger women, and in people with lower levels of zinc, folate or iron stores.

Why it happens

Hair grows in cycles. At any time, most hairs are growing and a small share are resting before they fall out. A big change in the body can push many hairs into the resting phase at once. A few months later, they shed together. Doctors call this telogen effluvium.

After a sleeve, several changes come together:

• The physical stress of surgery.
• Fast weight loss in the first months.
• Eating much less, which makes it harder to get enough protein.
• Low levels of iron, zinc or folate, which bloodwork can find.

How long does it last?

Most people notice shedding about 3 to 6 months after surgery. As weight loss slows and eating settles, the shedding usually eases, often by 6 to 12 months after surgery.

New hair then grows back, a little at a time. Because hair grows slowly, it can take several more months before it looks as full as before.

What helps

• Protein at every meal and snack, usually 60 to 80 g a day or as your dietitian advises.
• Your bariatric vitamins every day, for life, as your team set them.
• Bloodwork at 6 months and then every year, so low iron, zinc or other levels can be found and treated.
• Gentle hair care while it sheds: loose hairstyles, less heat and fewer harsh treatments.
• Patience. Shedding that starts after surgery usually settles on its own.

Hair supplements are popular, but more is not always better. High doses of zinc can lower your copper, and biotin can change the results of some blood tests. Ask your dietitian before you add anything to your daily vitamins.

Should hair loss stop me from having surgery?

That is a personal decision. It helps to know that for most people the shedding is temporary, and that there is a lot you can do to support regrowth. Your team is happy to talk it through with you at your consultation.