Is it common to have hair loss after surgery? I had breast augmenentation in September & now have significant hair loss (Photo)

Yes, it can happen. It's often your body reacting to stress. It should correct itself once all the hair follicles run through their cycle. Sorry that this is happening to you -- Dr. Nazarian

Change of blood flow, and scarring (deep and at the skin level) can cause hair follicles to shut down restricting new hair growth. The current hair may go in the dormant phase (telogen) and fall out (telogen effluvium). Areas involved with scarring may result in areas of permanent loss of hair.Please read the attached link for more information.#hairloss#hairlosspostop

Thank
you very much for your question and photograph.
Although I would not say that the phenomenon you are experiencing is
common, it clearly happens. We, as
plastic surgeons, have all seen this in our practices. Surgery in some individuals causes a stress,
which your hair reacts to, and puts more of the hair follicles in the last phase
of their life cycle. During the Exogen
phase, or new hair phase, the old hair sheds while new continues to grow. This situation is almost always temporary, and
your hair should regrow. A follow-up
with your primary care physician for a consultation and workup would be
strongly advised. In my patients, B12
injections are often beneficial for those with a history of this condition, both
before and after their surgery.

I appreciate your question.Occasionally surgical stress can cause this to happen.  Please follow up with your primary care doctor for further work up and evaluation.





The best way to assess and give
true advice would be an in-person exam.

Please see a board-certified
plastic surgeon that specializes in aesthetic and restorative breast surgery.

Best of luck!



Dr. Schwartz

Telogen effluvium is hair loss related to stressful events (like surgery and/or anesthesia) that cause adrenocortical hormone release. This speeds up the normal hair growth, resting, and loss cycle and can put more hairs in the loss stage. Patients who "stress" about surgery don't do as well as patients who are fully educated, informed, and excited (motivated) to undergo elective surgery--one example of this is hair loss, but it can occur even in the calm and totally prepared patient, too.While uncommon, we have noted this in some of our patients, and have recommended pre- and post-operative Rogaine in our surgery patients to help reduce or reverse this unfortunate (but fortunately, temporary) occurrence.You can note hair loss for several months, but not at this rate. The entire hair growth cycle takes about 10 months, so your hair can be expected to return to normal by a year from your surgery. In the meantime, you won't go bald, but some patients find this more than disturbing, which is why we have recommended the Rogaine (available over the counter--no Rx needed--at your drugstore.) Please also realize that the "stress" of hair loss can prolong the very thing you're stressing about! Best wishes! Dr. Tholen

This can happen, and is rare. There are other causes that your primary doctor can evaluate like hypothyroidism to reassure you.

I have had patients say this has happened to them. Whether it was from the surgery or the anesthesia or both I don't know, but in every instance it was temporary.

Great question.  Although its not common it can happen. The hair loss is temporary however and will grow back.  Surgery for some results in a type of shock or stress to the system which can result in an increasing number of hair follicles to be in the Telogen phase or detachment phase.  With a brief amount of time the hair follicles will enter a new phase of growth and will grown again.I hope this helps.All the best ,Dr. Remus Repta

Thank you for your question and congratulations on your breast augmentation!  There is a type of hair loss known as Telogen effluvium which can be triggered by a physical stress on the body such as surgery.  While not "common" after breast augmentation, this could be what is causing your hair to shed.  I would advise an appointment with your primary care physician for an evaluation.  Typically telogen effluvium is self limited and the majority of patients recovery within 6 months.  Best of luck with your continued recovery, and I'm sorry you are going through this!  

There have been anecdotal reports of hair loss after breast implant surgery. On the other hand, there are no peer reviewed scholarly studies establishing a link between hair loss and breast implant surgery. In the early 1990's there was a near hysteria surrounding breast implants that was mostly fanned by greedy attorneys. Eventually sanity prevailed and it was SCIENTIFICALLY proven that most, if not all, of those claims were bogus. In the meantime, if you are losing hair, you might look into using Minoxidil, an of=ver the counter hair loss product. Minoxidil can be helpful in many cases. Good luck.