Student went to Turkey for a beard transplant and three months later he was dead
A young man's life was devastatingly ended following a disastrous beard transplant in Turkey carried out by a property agent posing as a medical professional.Mathieu Vigier Latour journeyed to Istanbul in March last year for what he believed was a genuine €1,300 (£1,130) treatment.His father, Jacques, explains his son felt confident after spotting the clinic's official endorsement from the Turkish health ministry.Had he undergone the identical treatment back home in France, the student would have faced costs up to five times higher. Nevertheless, the affordable and swift solution became an absolute horror story for the 24-year-old.Throughout the surgery, 4,000 grafts were extracted from Mathieu's head before being relocated to his facial area. Yet somehow the practitioner misplaced an astounding 1,000 grafts.What emerged was a spiky cluster of hair that proved "unmanageable," his father subsequently revealed. The facial hair appeared lopsided, badly planned and featured strands sprouting at peculiar directions, reports the Mirror.Even more alarming was that Mathieu endured burns and experienced sleepless nights from the agony. Growing doubtful, he investigated the supposed medical professional and was horrified to learn he was actually a property dealer.Heartbroken, his relatives desperately sought a consultant in Belgium to repair the harm. However, it proved futile as the specialist confirmed that sections of Mathieu's head - from where grafts had been extracted - would never heal.Tragically, the psychological impact proved overwhelming, and he developed post-traumatic shock alongside severe body dysmorphic disorder. This condition left Mathieu fixated on what he perceived as imperfections in his appearance."He entered a vicious circle and couldn't get out," his father explained. Heartbreakingly, just three months following the botched procedure, Mathieu ended his own life in his Paris student accommodation.Last year, his father came forward hoping to highlight the fatal dangers of budget medical tourism. "If sharing our story can prevent this from happening again, it would be a fitting tribute to Mathieu," he stated.In another devastating case involving hair transplants in Turkey, a 36-year-old British man named Mentor Rama travelled to Istanbul for hair and dental treatment on 11 November last year. Following the procedure, however, he began feeling ill after returning to his hotel room.Emergency services were contacted soon afterwards and Mentor was transported urgently to a local hospital, where he passed away.A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson informed The Mirror at the time: "We are supporting the family of a British man who died in Turkey and are in contact with the local authorities."A message posted on a relative's public Facebook page declared "my heart is heavier than ever".The tribute, translated from Albanian into English, read: "Your departure has left a void that nothing in this world can fill I never thought I would have to write such words for you. You were our light the smile that warmed us the strength that lifted us up every time we fell."When life is difficult, Samaritans are here – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit their website at www.samaritans.org to find details of your nearest branch.
