Is hair transplantation possible for diabetics?
This is a common question regarding hair transplants, as some people mistakenly believe that the procedure is impossible or inappropriate for diabetics.
However, this belief is inaccurate; it does not apply to all cases.
Therefore, in this article, we’ll identify suitable candidates for this type of procedure.
Eligibles for Hair Transplants Among Diabetic Patients:
We can classify diabetic patients into the following two groups:
Group 1:
Individuals with a family history of diabetes who do not have the disease themselves. These patients are not insulin-dependent and are divided into two groups:
- Those whose blood sugar levels fall within the normal range—and who do not require any treatment or medication—can achieve this by following a dietary program.
- Those who need to take oral medications to achieve normal blood sugar levels.
For these two types of diabetic patients, hair transplantation is a suitable option.
Group 2:
They can also be divided into two groups:
- Patients who need insulin in addition to other medications to keep their blood sugar levels within the normal range.
- Patients whose blood sugar levels remain below normal, even after using all available treatments.
These two types of patients are not candidates for hair transplantation and should be informed of the risks involved.
Clinical Effects of Hair Transplantation on Diabetics:
The hair transplant procedure takes 6 to 8 hours, and may extend to 10 hours if it involves increasing hair density.
Therefore, hair transplantation can be somewhat stressful for diabetics or those with other health conditions, due to anxiety, anesthesia, and other factors.
In short, the hair transplant surgery increases the production of cortisol, glucagon, growth hormone, and other hormones.
All of these hormones raise blood sugar levels while simultaneously decreasing insulin production.
This means that the body will require more insulin than usual during the procedure. Administering insulin intravenously before the procedure may not be effective [1].
[1] The effect of the surgical procedure may not be limited to lowering blood sugar levels; it could also cause them to rise, exceeding normal levels within 4 to 5 hours.
What Does Undergoing Hair Transplant Surgery with Diabetes Require?
For diabetic patients wishing to undergo hair transplantation, the following requirements must be met:
- Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels.
- Insulin management; insulin is preferably administered by injection, based on blood sugar levels. This must be done through regular monitoring, regardless of the patient’s usual dosage.
- Intravenous glucose solution must always be available, as it is necessary in case of hypoglycemia.
The doctors will supervise other requirements within the hospital throughout the procedure.
Moreover, it is the ethical responsibility of the hair transplant surgeon to follow up with the patient after the procedure until full recovery and completion of the convalescent period.