This photo is provided by PeterPsquare
May 17, 2024
A video of Nigerian superstar musician, Peter Okoye of popular name PSquare undergoing a hair transplant surgery at a Turkish hospital has gone viral on social media.
In response to a video I posted on her social media handle, P said she felt uncomfortable about her hair but “now wants to do something about it.”
Later, as her treatment progressed, she posted another video saying that fans had told her 2,400 hairs had been plucked from her head.
Hair transplants are not very common in Nigeria but are a fairly common procedure in Europe and parts of the Western world.
Turkey is reportedly one of the top destinations for those looking to get their hair back on a budget, with thousands of tourists from Europe and the Middle East visiting every month.
There are more than 350 clinics in Istanbul alone, and the industry is booming, worth an estimated $1 billion to the country’s economy.
How much does a transplant cost?
According to the UK’s National Health Service, “The cost of hair transplant surgery in the UK ranges from £1,000 to £30,000, depending on the extent of hair loss, the type of surgery and the clinic carrying out the procedure.”
The number of hair transplants a patient requires will determine the price they pay, for example, a 700 hair transplant will cost around £1,500-3,000, some surgeons will charge more, but a 3,000 hair transplant will cost around £6,500-7,000.
In Turkey, a 2,000 hair transplant (Mr P has 2,400) can cost between £2,000 and £4,500. Again, prices vary depending on the facility and the medical professional performing the procedure.
What is the process?
These photos show Chris during and after his transplant in Turkey in 2016.
In 2016, Chris, a 30-year-old database manager from Bradford, also spoke about his own hair transplant journey to Turkey on the BBC show, giving a clear explanation of what the process was like.
“Firstly, I’ll lay you on your side and inject anaesthetic into the back of your scalp. It shouldn’t hurt, but I’ll inject you 20-30 times to make sure you don’t feel anything.
“Next, the extraction of the hair follicles begins. Again, it’s not a painful process, although it is a bit unpleasant to hear and feel the sound of an electric punch extracting the hair follicles from the back of your head.
“Afterwards they put you on pads and take you out to a light dinner before coming back to do the actual transplant surgery.
“Again, it doesn’t hurt, and the pressure applied as the new hair follicles are inserted helps you understand what’s going on.
“All in all, the operation takes about seven to eight hours, but considering the number of transplants I do, I think the results are pretty good.”
How long will it take to see a change?
The NHS says that after your hair transplant procedure, your surgeon will explain what to expect after the transplant, and you will also be given a spray to use to promote recovery and hair growth.
“You should handle the transplanted hair very carefully during the first two weeks after surgery, as transplanted hair is never safe,” the advice states.
After a few weeks, the transplanted hairs will fall out and then start to regrow. After 4 months: New hairs will usually start to appear, with full results likely to be evident after 10-18 months.
Are there any side effects?
According to the NHS, one of the most common side effects after a hair transplant is:
Your scalp will be sore, stiff, and swollen for a few days. The hair transplant may leave you with a temporary scab (a dry, rough area that appears after the wound has not healed), a scar, or a few very small scars.
It is said that the risk of bleeding is small with any surgery.
There are a number of possibilities, including infection or an allergic reaction to the anaesthetic, but your surgeon should be able to deal with these.
Although the risks are small, they can include the transplant not being effective, hair loss, and noticeable scarring.
Your doctor will explain this to you and tell you what to do if this happens.
Celebrities who have had hair transplants
This photo is courtesy of Getty Images
The photo shows former soccer superstar Wayne Rooney revealing that he had a hair transplant in 2011.
Hair transplants help many popular men regain their confidence.
In 2011, Manchester United player Wayne Rooney tweeted that he would be “bald at 25” and revealed that he had had a hair transplant.
My fellow footballers used to make fun of my baldness, and Rooney once told Michael Owen that talking about my baldness was a “sensitive issue”.
British comedian Jimmy Carr also revealed that he had a hair transplant, but said: “It’s not like someone donates your hair. The surgeon just takes hair from the back of your head and transplants it back into the front.”
