Hair loss after gastric sleeve surgery is something everyone warns you about in the early months — but hardly anyone talks about what happens if it doesn’t stop.
For most people, the shedding eases around the 9–12 month mark. For us? We’re now 18 months post-op… and we’re still dealing with clumps of hair coming out in the shower.
We’ve reached a point where we’ve had to accept that this might just be part of our new normal.
We’ve Tried Everything – Literally Everything
Between the two of us, we’ve spent a small fortune on:
- Scalp massagers
- Rosemary oil
- Biotin
- Collagen
- Every vitamin under the sun
- Special shampoos
- Serums
- “Hair food” treatments
- Supplements recommended in bariatric groups
- Supplements recommended by hairdressers
- Supplements recommended by dermatologists
We’ve checked our blood tests.
We’ve adjusted our diet.
We’ve followed every “5 things that stop hair loss after bariatric surgery” TikTok tip even though we knew better.
And still — the shedding continues.
Coming to Terms With It
At some point, you have to stop fighting the thing that’s stealing your energy.
That’s where we’re at now.
Kirsten’s Hair
Before surgery, Kirsten’s hair was one of her favourite things about herself — long, thick, and down to her waist. Losing that has been emotionally harder than she expected. After months of watching it thin, she eventually cut it to shoulder length.
She didn’t want to.
She didn’t plan to.
But mentally, it was easier than watching long strands fall out every day.
And the truth is… the shorter style actually suits her. But it wasn’t a “fun” choice — it was a necessary one.
James’ Hair
James has gone in the opposite direction entirely. The only way to hide the thinning was to keep it as short as possible without being a full buzz cut. Anything longer and the hair fall becomes painfully obvious.
Will it stop one day? Maybe.
Will it thicken back up on its own? Possibly.
Do we know for sure? Not even a little bit.
At this point, acceptance has become the healthier option.
It’s Not Talked About Enough
Hair loss after gastric sleeve surgery is always described as:
“Temporary.”
“Just 3–6 months.”
“It’ll grow back.”
“Once your nutrients stabilise you’ll be fine.”
But for some of us — and there are many of us — that simply isn’t true.
Sometimes it improves.
Sometimes it stabilises but never returns to what it was.
Sometimes it just keeps going.
And nobody really warns you about that possibility.
We’re Sharing This Because It’s Real
This isn’t meant to scare anyone.
It’s simply the part of the journey people don’t talk about — the part that doesn’t fit neatly on a before-and-after transformation page.
We wouldn’t change our decision. Our health, mobility, and quality of life are all miles better than before. But losing a feature you’ve had your whole adult life is a type of grief we didn’t expect.
So here we are, 18 months in:
- Sitting with the reality.
- Adjusting.
- Experimenting with new haircuts.
- Learning to accept what we can’t control.
And honestly? We’re okay.
Different, but okay.
Disclaimer: This post reflects our personal experience only and should not be taken as medical advice. Always speak to your own healthcare team about concerns related to vitamins, hair loss, nutrition, or long-term postoperative changes.