Hair Transplant With Diabetes

Can you have a hair transplant with diabetes?

As a doctor at My Hair UK, I often meet patients who want to understand whether a hair transplant is safe for people with Diabetes. Many feel uncertain about how their condition affects healing, their risk of infection, and the stability of their blood sugar during a day in theatre. You might wonder whether the diagnosis closes the door to treatment altogether, or whether careful planning can allow you to move forward. The short answer is that a transplant can be possible if your diabetes is well controlled, but the decision needs detailed assessment and honest discussion.

Diabetes creates a unique set of challenges during any surgical procedure. Even small wounds need predictable healing, and the tiny sites created during follicle extraction and implantation make this especially important. Research has shown that healing capacity can be reduced when blood glucose remains above target levels, with a higher chance of infection or delayed recovery. A widely used study that explored wound response in people with diabetes highlighted clear differences between patients with stable control and those with raised glucose levels, suggesting that the quality of control matters as much as the diagnosis itself.

When you attend a hair transplant consultation at My Hair UK, the most important step is assessing your general health before we talk about the transplant. This includes exploring your HbA1c results, your medication regimen, your awareness of hypoglycaemia, the presence of any nerve or kidney complications, and whether you have had problems with wound healing in the past. I find that many patients can describe a clear pattern of good control, stable readings, and dependable response to treatment. These individuals often move forward with a plan that aims to keep risk low. Others might describe erratic readings or frequent episodes of hypoglycaemia. In these cases I advise delaying surgery until the situation is stable because your safety should always come first.

The surgical day is usually well tolerated by patients with well controlled diabetes. Modern FUE techniques are carried out under local anaesthesia and you remain awake, which allows close monitoring and rapid response to any changes in your glucose levels. You can eat during the day and you can take your regular medication. The main focus is to maintain predictable glucose through measured carbohydrate intake and straightforward adjustments in timing. But this requires your diabetes team to be happy with your plan. You might ask yourself when you last reviewed your treatment or whether you feel confident about managing your condition during a long appointment.

Once the grafts are placed the attention turns to healing. People with diabetes who enjoy stable readings tend to do well and follow a similar course to those without the condition. You still need to follow the same aftercare routine, keep the scalp clean, and avoid pressure on the grafts. This is where small steps make a difference. For example, drinking enough water through the day helps support tissue recovery and reduces the chance of dryness or irritation. If you test your glucose regularly, you will notice that better hydration and regular meals keep your numbers steady after the procedure. I often ask patients to send photos during the first week so we can track the development of the donor and recipient areas and prompt early review if any signs of inflammation or infection appear.

There are circumstances where a transplant should not be carried out. Poorly controlled diabetes with high HbA1c values increases the chance of problems. Patients who struggle with unpredictable readings or those with significant vascular complications face higher risks during recovery, and the balance shifts away from surgery. I speak openly with patients who fall into this category because the aim is to protect long term health. A transplant should not go ahead if the chance of delayed healing or infection outweighs the potential benefit.

You might ask what steps you can take before visiting the clinic. I encourage anyone with diabetes to speak to their GP for an updated review. That offers an opportunity to check HbA1c, adjust medication if needed, and confirm that your condition is stable.

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