A 24-year-old French business student tragically took his own life following a botched beard transplant procedure performed by an unqualified individual in Istanbul, Turkey. Mathieu Vigier-Latour, who had traveled to Turkey in March for the cosmetic surgery, paid just €1,300 for the procedure—significantly cheaper than the €6,500 he would have paid in France.
However, after the transplant, Mathieu discovered that the person who performed the surgery was not a licensed surgeon but a real estate agent. The transplant, which involved transferring 4,000 hair grafts from his scalp to his face, left Mathieu with an irregular and unnatural beard, with some grafts growing in unnatural angles, resembling a “hedgehog” appearance.
The young man’s father, Jacques Vigier-Latour, recounted to BFM TV on October 28 how Mathieu had been drawn to the clinic after seeing its approval label from the Turkish Ministry of Health. “When it started to grow out, it looked like a hedgehog; it was unmanageable,” said Jacques.
The failed procedure also caused Mathieu significant physical pain, including burns on his scalp that made it difficult for him to sleep. “He was suffering. He wasn’t doing well. He was in pain, suffered from burns, and he couldn’t sleep,” his father added.
After the transplant, the family sought help from a specialist in Belgium to correct the procedure. Unfortunately, the expert informed them that the damage to Mathieu’s scalp was irreversible, and the beard growth remained uneven and patchy. Dr. Jean Devroye, the Belgian specialist, explained that while the situation was “relatively easy to correct,” Mathieu’s distress over the failed procedure appeared to worsen his mental health.
Despite the ongoing attempts to fix the physical damage, Mathieu’s experience led him to develop body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), a mental health condition that causes individuals to excessively worry about perceived flaws in their appearance. According to the Cleveland Clinic, BDD often leads to severe psychological distress and can trigger suicidal thoughts or self-harm.
In June 2024, just three months after the failed transplant, Mathieu took his own life at his student accommodation in Paris. “He entered a vicious circle and couldn’t get out,” his father said, reflecting on the tragic outcome.
Jacques Vigier-Latour now hopes his son’s story can serve as a warning to others considering cosmetic procedures abroad. “Nothing suggested that he was going to take action. If this testimony could prevent this from happening again and alert everyone, I think that would be a tribute to Mathieu,” he added.
The family has urged individuals to prioritize professional expertise over cost when considering cosmetic surgery, particularly in countries like Turkey, which has become a popular destination for cheaper procedures like rhinoplasty, tummy tucks, and hair transplants. Each year, over 100,000 medical tourists visit Turkey for cosmetic surgery due to the significant cost savings compared to Europe or the United States.
Turkey’s medical tourism industry has faced scrutiny in recent years. In 2019, a British woman named Melissa Kerr died following complications from a Brazilian butt-lift operation at a private hospital in Istanbul. Her family later called for greater caution when traveling to Turkey for cosmetic procedures. “We hope in the future individuals give proper consideration before traveling to Turkey for cosmetic tourism,” they said after her death.
Mathieu’s family continues to urge potential patients to thoroughly vet clinics and prioritize safety and qualifications over affordability.
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