Female Hair Loss Continuing After Serious Surgery a Year Ago — My Doctor Dismissed My Concerns

(female)
Hello,

I’m having a hard time with hair loss since a serious surgery in May of 2007 (it lasted approximately 6 hours). It is now April of 2008 and I’ve noticed a steady and very noticeable loss in hair (I can see my scalp from the back- very little coverage of hair).

I have no known genetic hair loss in my family (that I’m aware of) my grandparents and parents have full, very thick, heads of hair and I had a full head of healthy hair prior to my surgery. My Dr. dismissed my concerns as attached to the surgery in May, however, I have not seen any return of hair since then, but rather a continuing loss.

When should I expect the hair to regrow? Is it unusual for hair loss to continue 10 months after surgery (note: the loss didn’t start until a few months after surgery and it was dramatic loss all of a sudden rather than slow shedding). Sometimes I find that my scalp hurts- it’s a hard feeling to explain. It is not severe pain, but rather a dull sort of sensation all over my scalp. I’m very concerned and have tried one treatment (oil and shampoo system -the oil treatment was twice a week for three months-that was supposed to stimulate growth). It did not seem to help at all.

What do you recommend I do? Is this normal or the sign of something irreversible? Thank you for your help. I do hope you can answer my question. I’m desperate to find some solution.

Hair loss after a surgery or from a severe stress is called telogen effluvium. If it lasts less than a year as it normally does, it will reverse after the stress abates. Some people go on to a chronic telogen effluvium. Both forms may be treated with minoxidil while you are waiting for it to reverse. More information about telogen effluvium can be found at eMedicine.