A tragic incident unfolded when a young man’s life was shortened following a botched beard transplant in Turkey, carried out by an estate agent posing as a surgeon.
In March last year, Mathieu Vigier Latour traveled to Istanbul for what he believed was a legitimate €1,300 (£1,130) procedure. His father, Jacques, mentioned that Mathieu felt reassured upon seeing the clinic’s official stamp of approval from the Turkish health ministry.
Had Mathieu undergone the same procedure in France, he would have paid up to five times more. However, the seemingly inexpensive and swift solution turned into a nightmare for the 24-year-old.
During the operation, 4,000 grafts were extracted from Mathieu’s scalp and transplanted to his face. Shockingly, the surgeon misplaced 1,000 grafts, resulting in a patch of hair resembling a hedgehog that was challenging to manage, according to his father.
Mathieu experienced burns and insomnia due to pain, prompting him to investigate the supposed surgeon, only to discover the individual was actually an estate agent.
His family desperately sought a specialist in Belgium to rectify the damage, but it was too late. The expert confirmed that parts of Mathieu’s scalp, from where grafts were taken, would not recover.
Regrettably, the psychological impact became overwhelming for Mathieu, leading to post-traumatic shock and severe body dysmorphic disorder, fueling his obsession with perceived flaws in his appearance.
“Mathieu entered a downward spiral he couldn’t escape from,” his father lamented. Sadly, just three months after the failed procedure, Mathieu tragically took his own life in his Paris student accommodation.
His father spoke out last year to raise awareness about the dangers of cheap medical tourism, hoping to prevent similar tragedies in the future as a tribute to Mathieu.
In another heart-wrenching case related to hair transplants in Turkey, Mentor Rama, a 36-year-old Brit, underwent a hair and teeth procedure in Istanbul on November 11 last year. However, he fell ill upon returning to his hotel room after the operation.
Emergency services were called, and Mentor was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he passed away. The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office spokesperson conveyed that they were assisting Mentor’s family and coordinating with local authorities.
A message posted on a family member’s public Facebook page expressed profound grief, highlighting the irreplaceable void left by Mentor’s departure.
In times of distress, Samaritans offer support day and night throughout the year. Contact them for free on 116 123, email at jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.org for assistance.
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