French man allegedly given beard transplant by realtor in Turkey dies by suicide

Mathieu Vigier Latour, a 24-year-old living in France, died by suicide following a failed beard transplant operation in Turkey. It was alleged that the procedure was performed by a "real estate agent" posing as a surgeon.

Tuesday October 29 2024 04:05 am

Duvar English

Mathieu Vigier-Latour, a 24-year-old French citizen, has died by suicide after undergoing a failed beard transplant operation in Turkey in early March 2024.

After waking up from the procedure, Vigier-Latour has noticed significant swelling on the lower part of his face and was unhappy with the results. He then began investigating the doctor who performed the operation and allegedly discovered that the person was not a surgeon but a "real estate agent posing as a surgeon."

According to his father, Jacques Vigier-Latour, who spoke to television channel France 3, 4,000 hair follicles were taken from the back and left side of Mathieu’s head, but about 1,000 were damaged due to poor practice.

The father stated that his son had often complained, saying, “They took too much hair, ruined my life,” and that the procedure had deeply affected his son's daily life.

The father also noted that the burning sensation in his beard area and the back of his head severely impacted his son’s physical and mental well-being.

In an attempt to correct the failed procedure, the young man sought advice from other specialists, but these efforts were also in vain.

During this process, his psychological condition deteriorated, leading to body dysmorphia—a mental health disorder where individuals experience intense distress over perceived flaws in their physical appearance.

Despite his family’s efforts, Vigier-Latour's mental health continued to decline. On June 9, he died by suicide at his home in Paris.

After his son’s death, the father said, "If this story can prevent others from sharing the same fate, it will be a small way to honor Mathieu’s memory." He emphasized the need for proper information for individuals facing similar issues and called for stricter regulations in the healthcare sector.

Turkey has become a popular destination for "all-inclusive healthcare packages," attracting people from abroad who seek affordable medical procedures alongside “a holiday experience.”

People who come to Turkish hospitals often receive cosmetic surgery, hair and beard transplants, and weight loss surgeries which became extremely cheap after the depreciation of Turkish lira.

Nonetheless, many reports of health procedures carried out in unhygienic or inappropriate environments surfaced after the increasing popularity of these procedures which resulted in many deaths.