Hair Loss After Bariatric Surgery

By New Jersey Bariatric Center Staff | June 3, 2025

Help! My Hair Is Falling Out! What You Need To Know About Hair Loss After Bariatric Surgery.

You had bariatric surgery. Your weight loss is at a steady pace and you feeling great! Then one morning, you notice more hair than normal in the drain after your shower. What’s going on, you wonder. And more important, how can I stop it? Then a thought enters your mind: What if it’s permanent?

Hair Loss Is a Common Side Effect of Significant Weight Loss

Many bariatric surgery patients are surprised to learn that hair loss is a common side effect of weight loss surgery and it doesn’t matter if you’ve had Gastric Bypass, Gastric Sleeve or Gastric Band (also known as LAP-BAND). The truth is many patients will experience some degree of hair-thinning, especially between the third and sixth month after surgery. The good news is that there are several treatment options for this problem. And the better news is that since the hair follicles are not damaged, the hair will grow back.

Normal hair follicles go through a cycle of hair growth, followed by an inactive stage when the hair stops growing, and then the hair eventually falls out. After rapid weight loss (even for those who’ve lost weight without bariatric surgery), this process is accelerated, leading to hair loss.

Preventing Hair Loss After Bariatric Surgery

There are some simple things you can do to prevent or treat hair loss after bariatric surgery:

Protein! Protein! Protein! Protein deficiency causes your body to “conserve” protein, so your hair stays in the “inactive” phase longer than the growing phase. This way your body can use the protein for more vital functions such as maintaining muscle mass. That’s why it’s so important for bariatric surgery patients to get their recommended daily protein intake --especially if you are experiencing hair loss. Women should aim for 80 grams of protein daily and 100 grams for men. Protein shakes, eggs, fish, lean meats and beans are all great protein sources.
Check Your Iron. Anemia (or low iron) can lead to hair loss. Ask your doctor if iron supplementation is right for you.
“B” happy! All post-op Gastric Bypass and Gastric Sleeve patients should be taking some form of supplemental vitamin B12. Acceptable supplements include sublingual dots (1,000 micrograms daily), weekly Nascobal nasal spray or monthly injections.
A to Zinc. Zinc deficiency is a known contributor to hair loss. Ask your doctor to check your zinc level with a simple blood test. If your levels are low, you can take over the counter zinc to help improve your hair loss.
Be kind to your hair. Limit the amount of chemical treatments to your hair while you are experiencing hair loss. Color treatments, perms and chemical straightening can make hair brittle and lead to increased hair loss.
Treat yourself to a new do. Pay a visit to your hair stylist. A hair cut or trim will remove the “dead ends” and make your hair appear fuller and healthier.

Remember, hair loss after bariatric surgery is temporary. Reach out to your surgeon, nutritionists and NJBC staff for continued support through your weight loss journey.

Reference: “Hair Loss Among Bariatric Surgery Patients” Silvia Leite Faria, MS, Orlando Pereira Faria, MD, et al. Bariatric Times Online. November 11, 2010.