Bariatric Surgery and Hair Loss

Hair Loss is a very common after effect for the person who goes thorough bariatric surgery. But why does it happen? Is there any way to prevent them? The best hair transplant clinic in Kolkata can put some light on these questions.

Bariatric Surgery is known as the collective gastric bypass and weight loss surgery which is done by changing your gastric system to help you lose weight. Bariatric surgery is done to those people who cannot lose weight by diet or any form of exercise and have serious health issues due to weight. Some procedures limit how much you can eat. Other procedures work by reducing the body's ability to absorb nutrients. Some procedures do both.

To keep one thing in mind, all weight loss surgeries do have some side effects and bariatric surgery is no exception.  Permanent change in healthy diet and regular exercise should be implemented post-surgery to ensure long term benefit of bariatric surgery.

Theory behind hair loss after bariatric surgery:

It’s very common to have hair loss after bariatric surgery. All of us want to have a great shape with great hair. The hair loss associated with bariatric surgery is called telogen effluvium which is related to the normal hair growth cycle.

This lasts not more than 1-6months. The human hair has two phase in the hair growth cycle. The growth phase is called anagen phase and 90% of our hair follicles stay in this phase at any given time. The resting phase is called telogen phase which lasts around 3months on average and5-15% of our hair follicles stay in this phase.

If you’re having stress it is most likely going to play a role in the telogen effluvium and hormonal changes. This is important because the hair in the resting phase at the time of surgery is most likely the hair you will shed.

This is why your hair sheds between 1 to 6 months after surgery (usually about 3 to 4 months). When the hair starts to grow again the old hair follicle is released and you lose hair. Sometimes the hair comes out before new hair grows!

 

Common reasons behind Hair Fall after Bariatric Surgery:

Surgery, acute illness, trauma

Chronic disease such as liver disease or any chronic debilitating disease

Hormonal imbalance such as hypothyroidism

Crash dieting, low protein intake, anorexia, chronic iron deficiency

Heavy metal toxicity

Medications such as beta-blockers, excess vitamin A and anticoagulants

 

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS HAIR LOSS DUE TO BARIATRIC SURGERY IS NOT PERMANENT UNTIL AND UNLESS YOU HAVE A CHRONIC ILLNESS.

 

Things can be done to prevent hair loss:

Relax and don’t worry. It is natural hair loss of 5-15% of your hair due to the stress of surgery and weight loss. It rarely lasts more than 6 months. It grows back.

Visit your primary care doctor to be evaluated for any illness or non-nutritional reason for hair loss such as thyroid disease or other chronic illnesses.

Follow our dietary prescription which calls for limited calories and exceptional diverse protein intake on a daily basis. DO NOT add a lot of protein and increase your calories so much that you sabotage your weight loss. We suggest a protein supplement that is low in sugar.

Take a bariatric specific multi-vitamin with adequate B vitamins, folate, zinc and biotin. Don’t forget your B12 and calcium citrate with vitamin D supplements.

Avoid excessive vitamin A and high dose zinc supplements they are both potentially harmful.

Add iron if you are iron deficient based on your lab findings in consultation with your healthcare provider.

What is the Best Hair Transplant Method for Me?

Since you have come this long in search of your hair restoration method, you definitely know what hair transplant surgery is. But to be clear let’s understand the techniques and some details about hair transplant surgery in Kolkata.

 

Hair transplant surgery is kind of cosmetic surgery where the hair follicles are taken out from the back or side of your head (also known as the donor area) and inserted to the area where there is no hair follicles. This surgery is successful in the case of Androgenic alopecia where the balding has occurred to the crown of the head leaving the back and sides intact.

 

Cases of people suffering from hair loss has significantly risen in the last couple of years due to various factors. And so does the solutions to hair loss. But unfortunately all they do is take your money down the sewage and give you false hope. But there is good news that medical science have come up with new techniques to actually solve the problem to get real and long-lasting solutions.

These techniques and technologies can be surgical and non-surgical method of hair restoration based on the severity of your hair loss.

 

Non-Surgical method of Hair restoration

Let’s get some facts straight, products like specialty shampoos, supplements and leave-in products are not going to show instant results. Actually nothing will show immediate results but since we are keeping this medical so we will rule out these products.

Medications and medical products will show results if you start to use them on the early period of your hair loss. Medications can slow down or reverse the hair loss process by improving hair growth and fullness in surrounding follicles that are not totally dormant.

 

According to FDA’s approval there are two types of medication that is used to treat male pattern baldness: androgen dependent and androgen independent.

 

Androgen dependent medication: Finasteride, works by stopping the action of an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase which converts testosterone into DHT (Dihydrotestosterone), which is an element that shrink the hair follicles eventually making the hair thin, grey and prone to breakage.

 

Androgen independent medication: Minoxidil, work by dilating small blood vessels in the body. While it is still unknown why this stimulates hair growth, it has been shown to provide hair regrowth in around 40% of men after three months and will continue to support hair growth while the medication is being taken. Unlike androgen-dependent medicines, androgen-independent medicines can be used by women.

Supplements:

There are a variety of dietary supplements and vitamins available in the market but no clinical studies have shown that it can actually restore hair. People who have hair loss in their genetics and still haven’t seen any sign of hair loss or thinning can apply these products and they might get results.

 

Surgical Method of Hair Restoration

For the people who have experienced significant amount of hair loss, the surgical mode of hair restoration is the only option they can go for. There are two types of hair transplant surgery, FUT (Follicular Unit Transplant) and (Follicular Unit Extraction).

 

Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT): This method of hair transplant involves taking a strip of skin from the back of your head where the hair is fuller and healthy. The strip is then separated in individual tissues containing the hair follicles and prepared for transplantation. During the process tiny individual holes are made in the recipient site where you are experiencing balding. Then the grafts are individually places in those holes.

This method of transplantation has great end results and much long lasting. More number of grafts are achievable in a single sitting in this method. Though this method has some downside like the scar on the back of the head will remain for life time and while recovering both the sites needs to be taken care of.

 

Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE): FUE involves harvesting hair follicles from a donor site at the back of the head and moving them to create a fuller, natural-looking hairline. Unlike FUT, this method doesn’t involve removing a strip of tissue from the back of the head but rather collecting individual hair follicles directly from the scalp and inserting them into small incisions made in the recipient site.

 

What to choose?

Again coming to back to where we started, depending on the condition of your hair loss the necessary procedure has to be applied. If the hair loss has become quite significant then there is no other way except surgical method. But even in this case various factor involves like the toughness of the scalp, the intensity of hair loss and few others. Consulting to the right surgeon will give you the clear idea what you should go for and the “pros and cons” of both the method of transplant.

A Short Note on Hypospadias

 

 Hypospadias is condition that is observed in male infant in which the opening of the urethra is underside of the penis instead of being at the tip. Urethra is the tube through which the urine drains from the bladder. Hypospadias generally don’t cause any difficulty in the child.

 

One the surgery is done successfully; they have no difficulty in urination or reproduction in future. But what are the symptoms and causes of hypospadias? Here you will find the answers to your question about hypospadias surgery in Kolkata.

 

SYMPTOMS:

In this condition, the opening of the urethra is located underside the penis instead of the tip. In most cases the opening is within the head. Rarely is it observed that the opening is at the base of the penis. And in the rarest cases it has been seen that the opening is in or beneath the scrotum.

Symptoms of hypospadias are:

·        Opening of the urethra at a location other than the tip of the penis

·        Downward curve of the penis (chordee)

·        Hooded appearance of the penis because only the top half of the penis is covered by foreskin

·        Abnormal spraying during urination

Most infant with hypospadias are diagnosed within the hospital. Sometimes if the opening is in slightly different position and quite difficult to identify. The doctor needs to be consulted if you find the penis to be different looking or if there is any problem during urination.

 

CAUSES:

When the foetus is in the womb, various hormones come to action while forming the urethra and the foreskin. Hypospadias occur if malfunction occurs with the hormones. Till now the exact cause of hypospadias is still not found. In most cases it is genetic, though the environment also plays a role.

 

RISKS:

In spite of the fact that there is no exact reason of hypospadias still there are some factors which may have some link to it.

·       A child has a chance of getting hypospadias if there is a history of this condition in his family

·       There’s a possibility of getting hypospadias if the mother is over the age of 35

·       There is some speculation about an association between hypospadias and a mother's exposure to certain hormones or certain compounds such as pesticides or industrial chemicals, but further studies are needed to confirm this.

 

If hypospadias is not treated it can lead to various complications like deformed penis, problems learning how to use toilet, abnormal curvature of the penis with erection, problems with impaired ejaculation.

 

How FDA approved Finasteride is Effective against Hair Fall?

 

Hair loss and today’s youth has a very close relation because this is the one of the most emerging problem that has risen since a couple of years. If you are suffering from hair loss and even if you have researched a tiny bit regarding how to resolve it then you have surely gone through the term Finasteride and Minoxidil. But what are they? Let’s get some details about Finasteride from the best hair transplant clinic in Kolkata.

 

What is Finasteride?

Finasteride is a DHT blocker. Now comes the very obvious question, what is DHT? DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) is an androgen which contributes to the male sex characteristics like deep voice, increased body hair and mass, growth in penis, scrotum and testicles and fat storage in your body during puberty. DHT is converted from testosterone by the action of an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase (5-AR). When this DHT starts to flow through your bloodstream, it can link its receptor to the hair follicles which reduce the diameter making the hair strands thin, greying them ultimately breaks them off.

 

Finasteride is a type II 5-alpha reductase inhibitor. In simple words, it restrain the enzyme which is responsible for the conversion of testosterone into DHT. By reducing the level of DHT in the scalp, the drug stops the effect of DHT, reversing the process of hair loss.

 

Finasteride and Minoxidil are the only approved drug by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to treat hair loss. Finasteride comes is a form of 1mg oral pill that needs to be taken orally. It is recommended to at least take Finasteride for period of 3 months to notice the change.

 

A study showed that Finasteride can prevent hair loss in men with mild-to-moderate male pattern hair loss. In two of the clinical studies involving men with mild-to-moderate male pattern hair loss, 86% of men treated with Finasteride maintained or showed an increase in the amount of their hair based on hair counts during the course of the studies. Only 14% of men treated with Finasteride had further hair loss after 12 months of treatment, compared with 58% of placebo patients.

 

Contraindications:

Finasteride are not supposed to be taken by women and children. However it sometimes it is off label prescribed to postmenopausal women with no problems. Finasteride is contraindicated to women who are or may be potentially pregnant. Also it is not recommended to people who are sub fertile. Such patient should consult a physician and take the necessary tests before taking Finasteride.

 

Does Finasteride cause interaction with any other drug?

The answer is a straight NO. This is a good side of Finasteride that it doesn’t coincide with the action of any other drug due to which most patient suffering from androgenic alopecia uses Finasteride and Minoxidil simultaneously and none of them cross each other’s path.

 

Side effects of Finasteride

Since Finasteride is a drug that controls the level of androgen, it has some side effects though which are observed in a very less number of cases:

·       Low sex drive

·       Trouble getting/keeping an erection

·       Ejaculation disorder

·       Skin rash

 

To sum up, Finasteride is effective against hair fall, but people should understand that Finasteride is a drug that minimizes your hair fall not improves its growth for which Minoxidil is applied. Considering the actions and side effect of this drug it is always recommended to consult a doctor before taking it.

Lipoabdominoplasty – The Ultimate Abdomen Contouring

 

Many women find it difficult to achieve a flat stomach even after a perfect diet or exercise especially after pregnancy or major weight loss. Some also have exercise resistant fat which doesn’t shed off even after trying everything. Lipoabdominoplasty surgery in Kolkata has become one of the most common cosmetic surgeries to get rid of the excessive fat or skin from the abdomen.

Introduction:

Lipoabdominoplasty is a procedure which combines liposuction and abdominoplasty to remove excess skin and fat from the abdomen. It is a perfectly safe cosmetic procedure where the important structures of the abdomen like lymphatic vessels, nerves and blood vessels are not harmed.  

 

Lipoabdominoplasty is a safe procedure which prevents the complications and tissue trauma that can be involved with standard abdominoplasty such as hematoma (blood clot within the tissues), seroma (fluid accumulation in tissues), necrosis (tissue death) and fat necrosis.

 

Indications and Contraindications:

Lipoabdominoplasty are not suitable for the people with skinny abdomen and excessive skin, in that case you have to opt for traditional abdominoplasty.

Lipoabdominoplasty can be done to the patients having the following condition:

Presence of excess fat and redundant skin on the tummy, flanks and around the back

Excess fat in the lower abdomen or pear shaped body

Obese individuals with more fat in the abdominal wall.

Weakened abdominal muscles

Excess superficial fat in the upper abdomen

Fat in the abdomen and flanks giving an appearance of rolls

 

Pre-operative Assessment:

Before the procedure, you entire medical history is taken and a detailed physical examination is performed. It is recommended to stop smoking for a couple of day to avoid complications after the surgery and delayed healing. A healthy diet is recommended. Any kind of strict diet before the surgery has to be stopped. The doctor to should know about all the medication that you are taking currently and also about significant medical conditions and past surgeries.

 

Surgical Procedure:

The surgery is performed under general anaesthesia. Steps include in performing lipoabdominoplasty are:

The surgeon injects tumescent fluid, a mixture of saline, lidocaine, and vasoconstrictor to the fat cells. This anaesthetic fluid helps to decrease swelling, bleeding and facilitates removal of fat during liposuction.

Liposuction is performed to extract maximum fats from abdomen, back and flanks.

Liposuction is performed to remove the maximum quantity of fat from the abdomen, flanks and back.

After liposuction, an incision is made in the lower abdomen from hip bone to hip bone. The skin is elevated up to the umbilicus or navel in a special plane. The skin around the navel is then isolated.

A tunnel dissection is performed to expose the upper abdominal muscles. If required, the muscles are tightened.

The upper abdominal skin is pulled down over the lower part of the abdomen; excess skin is removed, and the edges are sutured.

Then, an umbilicoplasty or a belly button surgery is performed to create a new opening for the already attached umbilicus to the abdominal muscles. The new umbilicus is similar to that of the natural umbilicus.

The fluid collected under the skin flap may be drained or the space may be pre-closed depending on the surgeon’s choice.

Post-Surgery Care

After a surgery pain killers are prescribed to the patients to decrease the pain. It is advised to rest with your hips and knees to exert less tension on the abdomen. Generally the patient is released in an overnight or may be a day more if there is any sign of complications which happens rarely. Stiches are mostly internal and dissolving. Full recovery takes around 2-3 weeks.

Risks:

Like every other surgery lipoabdominoplasty also has some complications and risk factors which are observed very rarely though:

Infection

Delayed healing

Lung collapse

Deep vein thrombosis

 

Advantages:

Improved abdominal sculpting because of the aggressive liposuction

Many patients will have a short scar

Lower rate of postoperative complications

Less likelihood of postoperative numbness

Less swelling, bruising, and faster recovery

Blood vessels, nerves or lymphatic vessels do not get damaged anyway.

 

Conclusion:

Lipoabdominoplasty is one of the most common cosmetic surgery that people undergo to achieve a much more aesthetic self which increases the self confidence because it’s not always easy move in life being obese.

Hair Fall and Smoking

 

Marlboro or Dunhill? Do you relate to this question? If yes, then this blog is definitely for you. According to a World Health Organization (WHO), India contributes around 12% of the world smokers, which means around 120 million people in India smokes tobacco in form of Cigarette, Cigar, Bidi etc. But do you know that smoking can be a serious reason for hair fall also apart from the fact that tobacco causes cancer. There are few things that you should know from the best hair transplant clinic in Kolkata.

What smoking does to your hair?

The hair follicles in our scalp need essential nutrients like proteins, vitamins, zinc to have a healthy growth of hair. Now these nutrients reach our scalp through the circulation of blood.

Cigarette smoke contains toxic chemicals that shrinks our blood vessels and disrupts the blood flow in our body. Hence the hair follicles inour scalp doesn’t get enough nutrients due to the lack of blood circulation in the scalp. This disrupts the hair cycle and the hair becomes thins and starts to shed leading to noticeable hair loss.

Weakens immune system:

Due to the disrupted blood flow in the scalp, the hair follicles starts to produce excessive oils which leads to sticky hair, dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis), itchy scalp and scalp infection which leads to aggressive hair loss.

Since smoking imbalances the blood flow in the body which weakens the immune system of the body making it difficult to fight the pathogenic infections. This further aggravates your condition and results in severe hair fall.

Pollution:

The toxins presents in smoking not only hampers the health of the person smoking but also affects the one who is exposed to passive smoking or second hand smoking.

Harmful pollutants like nicotine and cotinine released into the air by cigarette smokers deposit in the hair shaft. This results in permanent damage in the hair structure of the people who are exposed to that polluted air. And, the alkaline nature of the toxins released from cigarette smoking can disturb your scalp pH, which affects your hair growth finally.

It’s not just inhaling smoke that is going to damage your hair but also people who are accustomed to stay and smoke in closed rooms or in car with windows rolled up are more prone to damage as it acts as a pollutant directly in contact with your hair.

Also, pollution caused by smoking can intensify your genetic hair loss while the carcinogens present in the contaminated air block the mechanisms in your hair follicles that produce hair protein.

How to stop hair loss due to smoking

1.  STOP SMOKING

The best way to reverse your hair thinning is by quitting it which is indeed the most difficult thing to do for a regular smoker. Your body promotes reverse hair growth by its natural rejuvenation process when the contamination is cut off for the hair and scalp tissue.

We know giving up is not easy so instead of quitting in a snap try patches or gums and give up eventually.

2. Have nutritious diet

Nutrients like vitamins and minerals acts as cleanser to the system for the contamination that has already been done due to smoking. They helps to rejuvenate the system and repair your antibodies so that they prevent you from pathogenic infections which aggravates hair fall.

Ensure your diet includes foods that are rich in Vitamins-A, B, C, D, E, K, iron, zinc, folic acid, proteins, etc. Include herbs like Indian gooseberry (Amla), fenugreek, coriander, turmeric powder, Jeera, etc. in your everyday diet as they not only promote your hair growth, but also strengthen your immunity

 

What is Pediatric Hernia – a Brief Explanation

 

 About 3-5% of the child develop inguinal hernia and the stats rise up to 30% if the baby is prematurely born. Get to know about the inguinal hernia from the best pediatric hernia surgeon in Kolkata.

 

What is pediatric hernia?

The story of pediatric hernia begins from the time when the baby is in mother’s womb. During the development of the foetus the testicles are first developed inside the abdomen and then it goes down to the testicle through a canal known as the inguinal canal which later gets sealed on its own. In some case this tunnel doesn’t get completely sealed and a piece of bowel can trap.

How to identify pediatric hernia?

Hernias canoccur at any age but are mostly noticeable after a few weeks or months of birth. If your child has hernia you can see a bulge on the groin or the scrotum. Generally it can grow large when your child is crying or straining and again get back smaller when sleeping (i.e. relaxed). Though there are some myths that crying and straining can cause hernia which is completely not true.

Doctors can identify the hernia very easily while examining them by seeing a bulge when he/she is crying and getting smaller when relaxed.

But what a doctor sees is different from what you see in the house. If there is a constant bulge then probably there’s a chance that it’s not a hernia rather it might be a mass. Rarely ultrasound is recommended for examining hernia.

How to treat?

Unfortunately there is no other option treat a hernia but to go for a surgery. The surgery is scheduled to close the tunnel. The timing of the surgery will depend upon the severity of the hernia. If it is an incarcerated hernia then immediate procedure needs to be arranged.

What kind of surgery is done?

A small incision is made near the bulge where the bowel is pushed back to the abdomen and the tunnel is closed.

If laparoscopy is approached then tiny incisions are made to insert the instruments and push back the bowel inside.

If bowel is trapped in hernia (incarcerated or strangulated) then the surgeon make sure that the blood supply is not stopped for a long time and then the part of bowel that is stuck is cutoff and the bowels are sewn back.

Generally the surgery takes around 30 minutes to 1 hour. The surgery is performed using general anaesthesia. After he/she gains consciousness you will get to see your child. There might be some pain in the area of incision but painkillers will be recommended by the doctor. The child will be sent to home on the same day. But if the child is a premature baby then the doctor might keep him/her for a one day observation.

 

Post-Surgery:

Home-care instructions can be different depending on the hospital or surgeon, age of the child, and how complex the surgery was. However, some general principles may be similar:

Most children can eat a regular diet right after surgery.

Recovery time depends on the child. Most can go back to normal, non-strenuous activities in about 1-2 weeks.

Your child will be restricted from bathing for 2-3 days post-surgery. Your surgeon may give you different or more specific instructions.

However if you notice any of the complication below then contact the doctor immediately:

Bleeding or drainage from the incision

Redness around the wound(s)

Fever above 101 F

Vomiting

Less peeing than usual or fewer wet diapers than usual

 

Having an inguinal hernia in one groin may lead to the chance of having the hernia on other groin but generally it doesn’t happen. The surgeon will give a details of the post-surgery care for your child.