Does Wegovy cause hair loss?

Some patients report increased hair shedding while on Wegovy, but the cause is usually rapid weight loss rather than the medication itself — a phenomenon called telogen effluvium. Significant weight loss in any context (post-surgery, severe calorie restriction, illness) can push a higher percentage of hair follicles into the resting/shedding phase. The shedding typically starts 2-4 months after the weight loss begins and resolves within 6-12 months as the body adjusts. Strategies: maintain adequate protein intake (often hard with reduced appetite — consider tracking grams), ensure iron and vitamin D are not deficient, slow the rate of weight loss if cosmetic concern outweighs metabolic benefit. The hair eventually returns. If shedding is patchy or starts before any meaningful weight loss, see a dermatologist — that pattern points to other causes (androgenetic alopecia, autoimmune) rather than weight-loss-induced telogen effluvium.