Why does surgery cause hair loss

Pressure alopecia is rather rare, but is known to occur occasionally after very long surgical procedures many hours where the head is kept in one position. A similar type of hair loss can happen in special circumstances like heart surgery using the heart-lung machine, where blood flow throughout the body, including the scalp, may be decreased.

This NetWellness column was written by Dr. Gareth S. For more information, visit the NetWellness anesthesia health topic. Telogen effluvium. This is a different kind of hair loss caused by various kinds of acute stress, which can lead to generalized hair loss all over the scalp. Causes include acute illness for example, severe infection, major surgery and severe trauma , chronic illness cancer, liver or kidney disease , hormones pregnancy, underactive thyroid , changes in diet, and a large variety of medications.

Major surgery is always done with anesthesia, so some people will attribute the hair loss to the anesthesia. A dermatologist can determine whether a home or professional treatment is best, but either option can take several months to take full effect. Depending on the severity of hair loss, your dermatologist may recommend one of the following professional treatments:. If you do lose hair post-surgery, talk with a dermatologist about potential treatments and possible ways you can regulate your hair growth cycle once again.

Although not all hair loss is caused by stress, it's often associated with hair loss. Find out which type may be causing your symptoms, treatment, and…. Hair loss can be caused by genetics or hormones. Read more about how testosterone affects your hair and how to prevent hair loss. Not all hair loss is due to genetics. Having an iron deficiency inhibits your production of hemoglobin, which is essential for hair growth.

Healthline's picks for the best treatments for hair loss for men include Rogaine, Propecia, and more—how do they measure up? Want to give your mane a boost? Try these products to get shiny, healthy locks.

HairMax is a company that specializes in laser light therapy to target hair loss — but do the devices actually work? To learn more about hair loss and anesthesia, or about telogen effluvium in general, please contact Chicago Hair Institute today. Raymond J.

Konior and the team at the Chicago Hair Institute offer world-class treatment backed by over 30 years of expertise in the field of hair restoration. Our doctors are nationally affiliated with professional associations including:. To learn more or to schedule an appointment at our Chicago, IL, hair restoration clinic, contact us online or call Some images are of models, not actual patients. Sitemap Privacy Policy Login.

More Contact Info. Menu Menu Location Contact. By on September 05, What is telogen effluvium? Learn more about Hair Loss and Anesthesia To learn more about hair loss and anesthesia, or about telogen effluvium in general, please contact Chicago Hair Institute today. Popular Tags. Unlike alopecia areata , an autoimmune condition that can make the hair fall out in patches, telogen effluvium can result in progressive shedding and hair loss. This phase lasts for three months, and then the hair falls out," said Tabitha Fredrichs , a certified trichologist based at the Christopher J Salon in Plymouth, Minnesota.

All the energy that the body has is going to the areas that need help before the hair," Fredrichs said. Many patients live with telogen effluvium after surgery, and it's one of the more frustrating side effects.

Thankfully, the hair follicles are only temporarily affected. New hair will continue to grow, and within months, the excessive hair loss will halt as long as the stress levels have reduced. It's not just a stressed-out nervous system that can bring on excessive hair loss. Although it's pretty rare, some research suggests that a condition called positional alopecia occurs when the head stays in one position for long periods.

If you're working with a surgeon on a short-term procedure, it's doubtful you'll experience this side effect. If you're undergoing lengthy reconstructive surgery or cardiac treatment, you may experience more hair loss because the hair follicles' blood supply can falter. Before and after surgery, put a gentle but effective hair wellness program in place to reduce any potential hair loss woes. A hair serum is easy to use and promotes healthy hair with minimal effort. The jury is still out on whether there's a definite link between hair loss and anesthesia.

A research review found that patients might risk alopecia if hypotensive anesthesia is used during their operation. This specific type of anesthesia is primarily used during maxillofacial jaw realignment surgeries.

Always talk to your doctor if you're concerned. Certain medications can affect the hair of patients post-anesthesia. Detrimental hair loss can especially accelerate if you're allergic to the prescription given. If you're given beta-blockers, anti-seizure or anti-thyroid medications, the American Skin Association suggests discussing hair loss with your doctor. Of course, it's not just surgery that can cause telogen effluvium and trigger the hair-shedding phase, according to Chacon.

Plastic surgery can be pretty exciting, but unfortunately, you could still experience telogen effluvium hair loss.