BBC News Article
Lee Mead: TV and West End star says hair transplant is personal
25th January 2023
Television and theatre star Lee Mead has revealed that hair transplant surgery has boosted his confidence.
The 41-year-old actor, from Southend, Essex, underwent an eight-hour operation in Turkey and posted updates on his social media accounts.
He told BBC Essex the treatment was “three times cheaper than in the UK”.
But the authority that oversees hair transplant surgery in the UK has warned patients to “do their homework” before heading abroad.
Greg Williams, vice president of the British Association of Hair Restoration Surgery (BAHRS), warned: “This is not a commodity like buying a kettle. Hair transplant surgery is a medical procedure – not a cosmetic one. A post-op image is not the result of the surgery – it takes a year to evolve. It’s an ongoing process, not a one-point-in-time event.”
Dr Williams said hair transplant surgery was becoming more “destigmatized” but – with cost a factor – many people sought cheaper alternatives abroad.
He said patients should be aware of the qualifications of the clinicians involved, that any skin cutting and care plan decisions must be through a doctor – and that the clinic must be fully regulated (in England by the Care Quality Commission and by the equivalent regulatory bodies in the devolved nations).
“Do your homework very carefully,” Dr Williams warned, “and beware of the hard sell on cheaper options. You can get a good hair transplant overseas, but make sure you know what the recourse is if it goes wrong.”
Thinking about hair restoration? See how the experts at Farjo can help.