Hair Loss

Hair loss can happen as a result of surgery. Telogen Effluvium occurs when sudden or severe stress, like surgery, causes an increase in the shedding of the hair. Hair follicles prematurely stop growing and enter into a resting phase. The hair stays in the resting phase for about 3 months after which time a large amount of hair will be shed. Surgery can cause this loss because after the stress of surgery your body compensates by diverting nutrients toward more vital organs. Also, when there is rapid weight loss, losing hair is not uncommon. In most cases the hair loss is temporary and the hair soon recovers.

Hair Loss Prevention Program

So here's the program:

1. Make sure you get at least 60 grams of protein every day beginning as soon as you get out of the hospital. Use shakes until you can get enough food. Build up to 80-100 grams when you can. Rationale: Protein is essential for hair growth and hair that doesn't grow falls out.

2. Force the fluids. At least 64 oz a day the first week or two then bump it up to 80-100 oz per day. Rationale: Fluids flush out the ketones your body makes when burning fats. Ketones are toxic to rapidly dividing cells like the hair follicles.

3. Beginning the first week after surgery, add 100mg of Zinc and 200 mcg of Selenium to your supplements. Crush these tablets for the first 3 months to guarantee absorption. Rationale: These mineral support the telogenic (resting) phase of hair growth.

Biotin supplements may also help, some swear by them. Nothing you put ON your hair from the outside will do anything to prevent loss, although it may plump up the individual strands and make your hair seem thicker. Topical emulsions don't usually penetrate the scalp to the level of the hair follicles--Minoxidil is an exception to this general rule.

For more information on Telogen Effluvium:
http://www.aocd.org/skin/dermatologic_diseases/telogen_effluvium.html