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"Open Heart Surgery And Hair Loss?" Asks Tim

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page Last Updated: March 29, 2026

I just received a very interesting question about hair loss and heart surgery from Tim.

He writes, "Dear Adam - I had an aortic valve replacement and an aneurysm repair procedure. Your book really helped me prepare for my surgery! Anyways, the operation and recovery went very well but now I seem to be losing my hair very rapidly. I am a 62-year old male that has been taking Propecia and using Rogaine for 20 years. Could it be the stress of the open heart surgery that is causing my hair loss? Has anyone else who has had this type of surgery had sudden hair loss like mine? Thanks, Tim"

I can really, really, really, really, really relate to Tim's question about hair loss after open heart surgery.

"Why?" you might be wondering.

Well, I have to admit...I used to have a full head of hair. Then, I had open heart surgery. Now, I'm losing my hair like crazy. Maybe it is the stress of the surgery and recovery? Maybe it's the stress of becoming a father? Or, maybe my age is simply catching up with me?

Telogen Effluvium and Hair Loss?

To answer Tim's question, I just did some research about this topic. This is what I learned:

According to MDPI, hair loss after heart valve surgery can happen but it is usually temporary and not very common in the long term. The most frequent cause is a condition called telogen effluvium, which occurs when the physical stress of major surgery pushes more hair follicles into a resting phase. As a result, patients may notice increased shedding about six to twelve weeks after surgery, such as more hair in the shower, on a brush, or on a pillow. This type of hair loss is more likely if the body has experienced additional stressors like blood loss, nutritional deficiencies, infection, or significant weight changes during recovery.

In most cases, the hair loss is not permanent, and regrowth typically begins within three to six months, with fuller recovery over six to twelve months, according to Patient.info. Occasionally, hair may grow back with a slightly different texture at first. Other factors such as medications, low iron or protein levels, or thyroid imbalances can also contribute, so it's important to maintain a healthy, protein-rich diet and ensure proper nutrition during recovery. If hair loss seems severe or continues beyond six months, patients should speak with their doctor to rule out other causes and ensure optimal healing.

About Heparin, Alopecia and Hair Loss After Heart Surgery

Lastly, there is some research about how heparin may impact hair loss after heart surgery. According to the JAMA Network, heparin-induced hair loss is a known side effect (alopecia) occurring in 50% or more of patients on long-term or high-dose therapy, often appearing 3-20 weeks after starting treatment. It commonly presents as diffuse thinning (telogen effluvium) and is usually reversible upon discontinuation, with regrowth occurring within months.

So you know, heparin is used during open-heart surgery to prevent dangerous blood clotting while your blood is circulating outside your body via the heart-lung machine.

Did you experience baldness or balding patterns following heart surgery? If so, please help everybody in our community by leaving a comment below.

Written by Adam Pick - Patient & Website Founder

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.

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