✨ Losing Hair After Surgery? Dr. Chen Says You’re Not Alone- or Hopeless.✨

Hi Reader,

If you’ve ever found yourself staring at the shower drain wondering “Um… is this normal?”, you are SO not alone.

This week on the BariNation Podcast, we sat down with the ever-amazing Dr. Edmund Chen to talk about one of the most common (and most emotional) parts of the bariatric journey: ✨ HAIR LOSS. ✨ Why it happens, what you can do, and how to actually grow it back — for real.

And honestly? This episode is the definitive guide so many of us wish we had on day one.

💬 What You’ll Learn (aka why you NEED to listen)

Dr. Chen breaks it down in the clearest, most “oh wow that makes total sense” way:

💛 Hair loss ≠ you’re doing something wrong. It’s your body responding to major metabolic stress. And yes… ➡️ Stress + rapid weight loss + healing = temporary shedding.

💛 Protein isn’t just for muscles, it is hair. If your intake is low, your hair will tell on you. Dr. Chen walks through what protein goals help minimize shedding (and even support regrowth).

💛 Vitamins matter more than we think. Your multivitamin, biotin, collagen, zinc — all of these help keep follicles happy.

💛 Movement boosts hair growth?? YES. New research shows that exercise increases scalp blood flow, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to the scalp and stronger follicles. Wild, right?

And you’ll also hear April get real about her own hair-loss experience — what scared her, what worked, and why she now treats her scalp like a tiny houseplant that deserves care and sunlight.

🧠 If You’re Panicking About Hair Loss… Read This

You’re not going bald. You’re not broken. You didn’t make a mistake having surgery.

Your body is doing EXACTLY what bodies do in a season of big change. And, most importantly: your hair will come back.

Dr. Chen reminds us over and over — this is temporary, predictable, and manageable.

🛠️ Your Back-to-Basics Hair Rescue Plan

If you’re noticing thinning, start here before buying anything new:

Hit your protein goals — or bump them up. Think 80–100g (or more if recommended).
Take your vitamins daily. Especially ones containing biotin, collagen, and zinc.
Move your body. Even gentle movement helps improve circulation to the scalp.
Scalp care counts. A few minutes of brushing or massaging at night makes a difference.
Give yourself space and grace. Seriously. The emotional part is real, and you’re allowed to feel it.

🏡 Want to Talk Hair Loss With People Who Get It?

Join us inside the BariNation Support Community, where you can ask questions, share your experience, and get support from Dr. Chen himself during his monthly Talk With a Doc sessions.

You can check out the full November and December Support Calendar HERE. And as a member, you can attend as many live events as you want. Seriously. Unlimited access to out-of-this-world support.

If you’re one of Dr. Chen’s patients, you even get a special membership rate. We know...so cool!

🎧 Listen Now & Share With Someone Who Needs It

This episode is PACKED with practical, calming, “you’re gonna be okay” goodness. If you know someone who’s just starting to shed and is low-key spiraling… please share this with them. It will help more than you know.

👉 Listen to the full episode on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube!

Here’s to healthier hair, healthier habits, and a whole lot of BariNation love. You’ve got this — and we’ve got you. 💛

❤️ Why Your Support Matters

Every week, BariNation delivers expert-led education, safe community spaces, and hope to thousands of people navigating bariatric life. But we can’t do it without you. Your one-time or monthly recurring gift makes a big impact on our grassroots organization.