24 Year Old French Man Dies By Suicide After Beard Transplant Goes Wrong (Commentary News)

"A French student died by suicide after receiving a failed beard transplant in Istanbul from someone allegedly pretending to be a surgeon.

In March 2024, 24-year-old Mathieu Vigier Latour travelled to Istanbul for a beard transplant. He was studying business in Paris at the time. Medical professionals encourage people who are considering travelling to Turkey for procedures to thoroughly research a doctor’s qualifications as the title of “cosmetic surgeon” is not protected by law, DW reported.. Dr. Susanne Punsmann, an expert with the North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Advice Center in Germany, told Turkiye Today that it is a good idea for patients to check if a doctor or clinic has European standard certifications.

Latour’s father, Jacques Vigier Latour, spoke to the French broadcast network, BFM TV, about his son’s experience.

The plan was to remove 4,000 hair grafts from the back of his head and move them to his face. Jacques said the surgery caused his son’s hair to grow and be shaped unnaturally.

He said Latour was suffering both mentally and physically.

“He was in pain, suffered from burns, and he couldn’t sleep,” he said in French.

The family tried to find a qualified expert in France to help correct the failed transplant. After being unsuccessful, they found Dr. Jean Devroye, a hair transplant specialist based in Belgium.

Devroye examined Latour and found that 1,000 out of the 4,000 hair grafts that were removed from his scalp would not grow back. He also concluded that Latour would have permanent scarring.

Jacques said this news worsened his son’s mental health, leading to him developing body dysmorphic disorder — a mental health condition in which a person constantly worries about their appearance.

“He entered a vicious cycle,” Jacques said about Latour’s mental state at the time, “He couldn’t get out.”" - NationalPost | Commentary via Headline Stream on YT |