Hair Loss After Surgery

Dear Doc,

I have a friend who did surgery  for weight loss a few months ago. She keeps saying that her current hair loss is due to the surgery. Is this really possible?

Sounds like the two of you have been debating the cause of her hair loss. Well, hair loss after surgery is actually not uncommon, especially after major surgery such as bariatric surgery aka gastric bypass surgery. There are several reasons she could be having hair loss after surgery.

First, the anaesthetics which put her too sleep are quite notorious for inducing hair loss. Any significant blood loss during the surgery could also trigger it. The stress the body undergoes from the surgery alone also causes hair loss. Any deficiencies that she may acquire post surgery, such as low iron, and especially after bariatric surgery, low proteins etc, can also trigger hair loss. The fact that she would have experienced rapid weight loss after the surgery is also a contributor. Hair loss often accompanies rapid weight loss.

The hair loss phenomenon she is experiencing is Telogen Effluvium, a diffuse hair loss characterised by excessive shedding of hair.  It usually occurs a few months after a stressful event, such as surgery.  Eventually, after six months it should correct itself, however, if she is worried about her hair loss, she should seek help from a dermatologist to help with controlling the hair loss after surgery. She should also make sure to follow the dietary regimen and vitamin supplements that her doctor would have prescribed for her.