There's nothing you can do beforehand.

Afterwards, if the hair loss came because your system got shocked by the surgery and the rapid weight loss, again there is nothing you can do.

But, if you are deficient in certain nutrients, especially protein, that can exacerbate the situation and make it worse or last longer.

So getting in your protein and taking your supplements is key.

All the other stuff people tell you to do? Waste of time and money... your hair dies when you have the surgery and falls out 3 months later when the new growth comes in and pushed the dead hair out. No special shampoo or special supplement can bring dead hair back!

Oh and biotin doesn't help with hair loss but it can make the new hair grow back nicer.

Yep to the above! I lost a TON of hair after three months, and then again at 6 months when I had my gallbladder removed. I wore extensions in the front for about 3 months after the second surgery.

Anyhow, it's really healthy and growing now. So, no worries! Sitting here two years later, I'd do it all over again--even the hair loss!

that's good to know, chocolate. I have always had a thick head of hair and started losing it at about 3 months post op. I am now 8 months post op and still losing. I am getting my protein in but the doc also suggested more zinc. That's my next try.

I went to my hairdresser and she was really stressing (mind you...it was ME losing the hair...LOL)...

Anyhow, we put in hair extensions in the worst areas of loss (mine was in front, around my hairline) to let my natural hair have a rest and grow. It worked super well! That said, I went from having shoulder length hair at surgery to having boy-short hair within a year. Today, my hair is what you see in my profile pic. I promise, you'll get it back!

And your hair does come back.

Oh that's true and usually it come back nicer! I think that's because we are taking all our vitamins and eating so much better now.

I even have a slight wave to my hair when it was dead straight before.

Also, I lost a lot of the gray and the new hair came back brown! I do still have some gray but about half of what I had before.

I lost alot of hair starting at 3 months and it lasted until I was 7 months out. I'm almost 8 months out and it's growing back thicker than before.

if you are like me "tring" to prepair for it! then i will be having alot of my hair cut off just before the op(i have really long hair)! and 1. it is more manageable afterwards! and 2. when it starts falling out in clumps no one will notice!
good luck x