Hair Loss After Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

    March 2021 in “ Obesity surgery ”
    Wen Zhang, Meiling Fan, Cunchuan Wang, Kamal Mahawar, Chetan Parmar, Wei‐Ju Chen, Wah Yang
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    TLDR Many people experience hair loss after weight loss surgery, especially younger women, and it's linked to lower levels of zinc, folic acid, and ferritin.
    The systematic review and meta-analysis, which included 18 studies with a total of 2,538 participants, found that hair loss after metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is a common complication, with an incidence rate of 57% (95% CI 42–71%). The likelihood of experiencing hair loss decreased over time following the surgery. The analysis also revealed that hair loss was significantly more prevalent in younger women. Additionally, lower serum levels of zinc, folic acid, and ferritin were associated with an increased risk of hair loss post-MBS, while serum iron and vitamin B12 levels did not show a significant association. The study suggests that further prospective research with larger cohorts is necessary to understand this complication better.
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