While unusual, it is not uncommon for patients to suffer some hair loss after surgery. There are several potential reasons for this hair loss. Stress, medications, or the type of surgery can affect your hair’s normal growth cycle.
There is a natural growth cycle your follicles typically go through, which is a process that typically lasts for several years. The stages of this cycle don’t all happen at once. Different hair follicles are often in separate phases from one another. Telogen is the resting phase for hair follicles when your hair stops growing but new hair begins to form in follicles.
Can a long hospital stay cause my hair to fall out?
Most post-surgery hair loss is triggered by a disruption to your hair’s normal growth cycle in a condition called telogen effluvium. While hair loss after surgery can happen, it is very often only temporary.
Positional alopecia – while uncommon – derives from holding one’s head still for an extended period of time. This is more likely to occur during something like a lengthy reconstructive surgery or open-heart surgery. Postoperative alopecia (or Pressure Alopecia) following a lengthy surgery can be caused by prolonged immobilization where anesthesia is involved.
In general, stress is a hair loss trigger. And few things are more stressful than invasive surgeries or lengthy hospital stays. Typically, you will notice a loss of hair 3-6 months after any majorly stressful event.
Can hair fall out after anesthesia?
While some doctors suspect there may be a link between anesthesia and hair loss, there is not currently enough research to prove a connection. It may depend on how long the surgery lasts or it may be dependent on the kind of anesthesia in use. Longer surgeries may also increase the risk of pressure alopecia.
How can I stop hair from falling out after anesthesia?
The best advice is good sound advice for our bodies in general. Make sure you’re eating a nutritious and well-balanced diet full of protein and iron. Make sure you are managing to get plenty of exercise (though depending on your surgery consult with your doctor about your body’s needs and limitations) and maintain a regular sleep schedule to help minimize stress and health related triggers for hair loss. Considering the situation, this may be the most difficult but try to manage your stress as best you’re able.
It is likely that any hair thinning or increased shedding you may experience will subside after about six to eight months but, during the time immediately after your surgery, you should take extra care of your hair. Use a milder shampoo with a conditioner to ensure your hair stays hydrated. Avoid dyes and other chemical treatments, limit your use of hair dryers, and gently comb your hair until the hair loss subsides.
If you are worried about hair loss before surgery or being anesthetized, be sure to discuss it with your doctor to talk through your best courses of action.
RHRLI Has the Hair Restoration Experience You Want
Having transplanted more than one million hair follicles, our team at RHRLI has extensive experience you can trust to evaluate, diagnosis, and treat your hair loss. At our proven facility, we offer a range of hair loss treatments including non-surgical options and surgical procedures using the minimally invasive ARTAS® robotic hair transplant system.
Our team will assess your hair loss, its causes, and whether you would be a good candidate for robotic hair restoration or if another one of our hair treatment services would be better. Find out more by contacting us today.