After visiting a well-known tourist hotspot, which draws over a million visitors each year for cosmetic procedures, a tragic event unfolded.
Warning: This article discusses suicide and includes graphic content that may be distressing for some readers.
A young man who spent just over $1,000 on a beard transplant in a popular European destination for low-cost cosmetic surgery tragically took his own life following complications from the procedure.
Mathieu Vigier Latour, 24, had saved up $1,300 for the surgery, a fraction of what it would have cost him in France.
Sadly, after the procedure, he discovered the shocking truth about the person who performed it.
Mathieu Vigier Latour had visited the surgery in March
In March, Mathieu traveled to Istanbul, Turkey, seeking treatment. However, the outcome led to severe body dysmorphic disorder.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, this mental health condition makes individuals overly focused on their physical appearance, often leading to obsessive thoughts and behaviors.
During the transplant, the ‘surgeon’ took 4,000 hair grafts from his scalp and applied them to his face, with 1,000 grafts going to waste in the process.
Afterward, Mathieu discovered that the person performing the surgery was not a licensed surgeon but actually an estate agent.
His father, also named Mathieu Vigier Latour, shared with BFM TV: “When it started to grow out, it looked like a hedgehog, it was unmanageable.”
The botched surgery left the young business student with a beard that grew irregularly and at an odd angle.
The botched beard transplant later lead to Latour tragically taking his own life
The burns from the procedure made it difficult for him to sleep comfortably.
His father explained: “He was suffering, he wasn’t doing well. He was in pain, suffered from burns, and he couldn’t sleep.”
In an attempt to correct the damage, the family sought help from a specialist in Belgium.
However, upon learning that the donor area on his scalp would never fully heal, Mathieu experienced post-traumatic shock.
Just three months later, he tragically took his life in his Paris student apartment.
Mathieu Vigier Latour’s beard was growing ‘like a hedgehog’
“He entered a vicious circle and couldn’t get out,” his father added.
“If this testimony could prevent this from happening again and alert everyone, I think that would be a tribute to Mathieu.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, Mental Health America offers support. You can call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. Alternatively, text MHA to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.
If you need immediate assistance, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This free, confidential hotline is available 24/7 for everyone.
