Tips for Minimizing Hair Loss After Weight-loss Surgery

Shedding hair 3 to 5 months after weight-loss surgery is a relatively common occurrence that happens from losing weight rapidly, not getting enough protein, and the general stress your body goes through from surgery. Other less common reasons for post-surgery hair loss might be a lack of important dietary nutrients such as zinc, biotin, potassium, vitamin B6, or phosphorus.

A deficiency of these nutrients can damage the hair root, thus making follicles unsalvageable. Lack of protein in your diet, will cause the hair to break off as it grows through the scalp.

Ensuring your post-surgery diet is rich in protein and the appropriate vitamins and minerals can help lessen the severity of hair loss, or even prevent it. Here are some tips to make sure you’re consuming the right nutrients to protect your hair.

Tips for Minimizing Hair Loss after Weight-loss Surgery

• Consume a minimum of 60 to 80 grams of protein each day.
• Include a protein with every meal and snack.
• Use liquid or powdered protein supplements to meet daily protein intake goals.
• Take vitamin and mineral supplements as recommended by your doctor
• Eat a wide variety of healthy, nutrient-rich foods every day.

If bariatric surgery-related hair loss does occur, don’t worry – it will grow back!

Lose Weight at Penn Medicine

Penn can help you lose weight.

Learn about medical weight loss in Philadelphia, and the Penn Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Program at a free information session about weight-loss surgery in Philadelphia.

There, you will hear about your weight-loss surgery options, and how Penn can help you lose weight and get healthy for good.

Register for a free information session today.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

The Right Foods for Keeping Your Hair

Cara Stewart, RD, LDN, member of the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery team, provides nutrition recommendations for minimizing hair loss.

Hair loss is common after bariatric surgery. It can be caused by stress on your body from surgery, inadequate protein intake or rapid weight loss.

Hair is made of protein, and in the weeks and months following bariatric surgery, patients are often restricted to a liquid diet. Liquid protein supplements can help you compensate for the lack of protein during the post-operative time.

Depriving your body of protein can damage hair roots and weaken hair growth. Once the root is damaged, hair follicles cannot be salvaged. A few months after the lack of protein in your diet, your hair will break off as it grows through the scalp.

The good news is that with an adequate protein intake, your hair will grow back. A minimum of 60 to 80 grams of protein each day is recommended for optimal nutrition. In general, it is best to include a protein with every meal and snack.

Although less common, hair loss can also be caused by a deficiency in nutrients such as zinc, biotin, potassium, vitamin B6, or phosphorus. To prevent nutrient deficiencies, it is important to take the recommended vitamin and mineral supplements and nutrient-rich foods.

By consuming a wide variety of healthy foods, you can maintain your healthy head of hair.

- Cara Stewart, RD, LDN

reade more... Résuméabuiyad