Ways a Gastric Bypass Can Cause Hair Loss in Women
Gastric bypass is a serious operation that is used to help obese people lose weight in a relatively short period of time. The operation can vary, but generally involves the stomach being separated into two 'pouches,' a smaller upper pouch and a larger 'remnant' pouch, before the small intestine is connected to both. This means that there is a marked reduction in the functional volume of the stomach of around 90%.
Because of the fact that it is a major operation, and therefore complications are a risk, only those who are morbidly obese are eligible for the weight loss surgery, which can save lives. The same is true of gastric sleeve surgery. The aim is to stabilise weight loss at a considerably lower weight and maintain it there. As well as more serious side effects such as haemorrhage and bowel obstruction, nutritional deficiencies can result from the reduction in food intake.
Nutritional deficiencies can cause hair loss in women the form of diffuse thinning (where hair loss is even across the scalp, as supposed to patchy loss) and there are many different types of deficiency. Possible deficiencies include secondary hyperthyroidism due to inadequate absorption of calcium, iron deficiency, zinc deficiency, Vitamin B12 and A deficiencies and protein malnutrition. A blood test can often establish the exact deficiency, and once this has been addressed hair should regrow.
For those worried about not getting enough hair-friendly nutrients, a dietary supplement may be beneficial - though these are not intended to replace a balanced and varied healthy diet. Belgravia's specialists have formulated the exclusive Hair Vitalics for Women food supplement for healthy hair growth. Containing a unique blend comprising zinc, biotin, selenium, copper and a number of other highly-targeted vitamins, minerals, amino acids and botanical extracts, this one-a-day tablet is suitable for vegetarians, and free from gluten, lactose, salt, sugar and yeast.
Another way in which gastric bypass surgery can cause hair loss is short term loss on account of the shock to the system that occurs after an operation, which is known as telogen effluvium. Again, this sort of loss generally causes diffuse thinning over the top and sides of the scalp.
Because the body considers hair as a non-essential system, when it is under pressure it reroutes its resources away from the hair and to more essential functions. This causes hair to prematurely enter the resting (telogen) stage of the cycle from the anagen, or growth stage. After three months, the hair will shed, and this delay means that it is often unexpected and people may fail to realise the cause.
For women who experience hair loss that does not regrow within a year of their operation, it's important to establish the cause in order to know whether the hair loss itself needs to be treated. Telogen effluvium that isn't growing back fully can be treated using a hair loss treatment plan that contains the only medication licensed or approved by the MHRA and the FDA (the UK and US medical regulatory bodies) minoxidil.
Minoxidil is a topical treatment that stimulates hair growth, even in areas where miniaturisation on account of female pattern hair loss (genetic hair loss) has occurred, as long as some degree of hair is still growing. Available in a variety of formulations, high strength minoxidil is particularly effective for stubborn thinning and a hair loss specialist can recommend the best solution for you, based on the type and severity of your hair thinning.
Minoxidil is used as part of a hair loss treatment programme, which involves hair growth boosters such as the FDA cleared LLLT devices, including the LaserComb. Combined with close monitoring by, and on-going support from a dedicated hair loss specialist, Belgravia's approach to treating women's hair loss ensures a convenient, supportive process - as many clients attest to.
Nutritional Deficiencies
Nutritional deficiencies can cause hair loss in women the form of diffuse thinning (where hair loss is even across the scalp, as supposed to patchy loss) and there are many different types of deficiency. Possible deficiencies include secondary hyperthyroidism due to inadequate absorption of calcium, iron deficiency, zinc deficiency, Vitamin B12 and A deficiencies and protein malnutrition. A blood test can often establish the exact deficiency, and once this has been addressed hair should regrow.
For those worried about not getting enough hair-friendly nutrients, a dietary supplement may be beneficial - though these are not intended to replace a balanced and varied healthy diet. Belgravia's specialists have formulated the exclusive Hair Vitalics for Women food supplement for healthy hair growth. Containing a unique blend comprising zinc, biotin, selenium, copper and a number of other highly-targeted vitamins, minerals, amino acids and botanical extracts, this one-a-day tablet is suitable for vegetarians, and free from gluten, lactose, salt, sugar and yeast.
Shock to the System
Another way in which gastric bypass surgery can cause hair loss is short term loss on account of the shock to the system that occurs after an operation, which is known as telogen effluvium. Again, this sort of loss generally causes diffuse thinning over the top and sides of the scalp.
Because the body considers hair as a non-essential system, when it is under pressure it reroutes its resources away from the hair and to more essential functions. This causes hair to prematurely enter the resting (telogen) stage of the cycle from the anagen, or growth stage. After three months, the hair will shed, and this delay means that it is often unexpected and people may fail to realise the cause.
Treating Hair Loss in Women
For women who experience hair loss that does not regrow within a year of their operation, it's important to establish the cause in order to know whether the hair loss itself needs to be treated. Telogen effluvium that isn't growing back fully can be treated using a hair loss treatment plan that contains the only medication licensed or approved by the MHRA and the FDA (the UK and US medical regulatory bodies) minoxidil.
Minoxidil is a topical treatment that stimulates hair growth, even in areas where miniaturisation on account of female pattern hair loss (genetic hair loss) has occurred, as long as some degree of hair is still growing. Available in a variety of formulations, high strength minoxidil is particularly effective for stubborn thinning and a hair loss specialist can recommend the best solution for you, based on the type and severity of your hair thinning.
Minoxidil is used as part of a hair loss treatment programme, which involves hair growth boosters such as the FDA cleared LLLT devices, including the LaserComb. Combined with close monitoring by, and on-going support from a dedicated hair loss specialist, Belgravia's approach to treating women's hair loss ensures a convenient, supportive process - as many clients attest to.
The Belgravia Centre
The Belgravia Centre is a world-renowned group of a hair loss clinic in Central London, UK. If you are worried about hair loss you can arrange a free consultation with a hair loss expert or complete our Online Consultation from anywhere in the world for home-use treatment.
View our Hair Loss Success Stories, which includes the world's largest gallery of hair growth photos and demonstrates the level of success that so many of Belgravia's patients achieve.
