Diabetes and Hair Transplantation: Can patients with diabetes have a hair transplant?

Q: Can Patients with Diabetes have a hair transplant?

A: Yes, most individuals with type 2 diabetics can undergo hair transplantation. For the 18 million Americans and 2 million Canadians with diabetes, a large proportion would be candidates for this type of surgical procedure. However, type type 2 diabetics, mainly "poorly controlled" type 2 diabetics, may have a higher risk of complications.The vast majority, however,  have no problems.

I like to order a few blood tests to look at the level of blood sugar control a patient has before a hair transplant (called the hemoglobin A1c test). Individuals with a high hemoglobin A1c test are said to be 'poorly controlled' - we often delay or postpone the procedure in such individuals

During the procedure, we may also check blood sugars. After the procedure, we carefully follow healing of donor and recipient areas. It is well known that wound healing can be impaired in type 2 diabetes. In fact, wound healing is one of the most important concern in type 2 diabetic individuals. 

All in all, most patients with type 2 diabetics and hair loss are candidates for hair transplantation.