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.
According to the Daily Mail, the cost of the transplant was around $1,950, only a fifth of the price it would be if getting the procedure done in France.
He found the clinic online, which appeared credible as it reportedly had certification from Turkey’s Ministry of Health. He learned after the procedure that the man performing the transplant was allegedly not a medical professional, but an estate agent.
After the procedure, Latour’s beard was reportedly oddly shaped and grew at an unnatural angle, like a “hedgehog.”
Over the years, Turkey has become more popular for cosmetic surgeries, including nose jobs and hair transplants. The popularity is primarily due to cheaper costs.
