He Went to the "Mecca for Hair Transplants" for a Fuller Look... British Man Dies in T?rkiye

British Man Dies in T?rkiye While Seeking Hair Transplant
Condition Worsened Before Surgery... Cause Unknown

A British man who traveled to T?rkiye, known as a "mecca for people with hair loss," to undergo a hair transplant procedure has died while in the country.

An image of a hair transplant procedure unrelated to the article. Pexels

On August 3 (local time), British newspapers The Guardian and The Independent reported that a British man died while attempting to undergo a hair transplant surgery in Istanbul. According to the reports, Martin Latchman, 38, from Milton Keynes, England, recently visited a hair transplant clinic located in the Besiktas district of Istanbul. He was scheduled to undergo a procedure costing about 1,500 pounds (approximately 2.5 million Korean won), but his health suddenly deteriorated before the surgery. He was transferred to the intensive care unit of a nearby hospital but ultimately passed away.

As the incident gained attention, the hospital issued a statement saying, "The patient exhibited signs of ill health during the preparation stage, before the hair transplant surgery began," and added, "It is not known why his condition worsened." The hospital is reported to have performed over 50,000 hair transplant surgeries to date.

Turkish media outlet OdaTV reported that Turkish health authorities have launched an investigation into the incident and that his body has been sent to a forensic institute for autopsy. The police have also begun an investigation.

According to local reports, Latchman was known to regularly exercise and maintain his physical fitness. He had previously undergone a hair transplant at the same hospital last year and had returned to Istanbul this year for a second procedure.

The UK Foreign Office stated, "We are supporting the family of a British national who died in T?rkiye and are in contact with the local authorities."

According to the Turkish Medical Tourism Board, more than one million foreigners visit T?rkiye each year for procedures such as hair transplants, earning it the nickname "mecca for people with hair loss." T?rkiye accounts for about 60% of the global hair transplant market, thanks to its affordable costs and relatively advanced techniques.