Clinic did 'everything necessary' before Brit, 38, died awaiting hair transplant

Daily Mirror

2 days ago

CINIK, whose clients include football stars Rio Ferdinand and Rivaldo, have released a statement after the death of a British man following a hair transplant on Monday
The Turkish clinic that treated a British man who died after falling ill following a hair transplant procedure say it undertook all the necessary medical evaluations and tests.
The 38-year-old flew to Istanbul and had the procedure at private centre CINIK, Turkish news outlet OdaTV reports. Following the five-hour transplant surgery, he fell unwell and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. The unnamed man was later pronounced dead.
CINIK say they are satisfied all correct steps were taken, like they have been for the 70,000 hair transplant procedures performed at its surgery. Police investigating his death are reportedly considering possible 'reckless homicide' with staff at the clinic as well as the surgeon who performed the transplant all interviewed by police, alongside the firm's anaesthesiologist and nurses. It comes after a Brit mum's 'horrendous' death after being scratched by a puppy with rabies on holiday.
In a statement released to MirrorOnline, the company, who have treated football legends Rio Ferdinand and Rivaldo, said: "We are deeply saddened by the passing of our patient. In July 2024, the patient had previously undergone a successful hair transplant procedure at our clinic, and following his satisfaction with the results, he returned for a second procedure.
"Prior to the second operation, all necessary medical evaluations and tests (including blood work, chest X-ray, ECG, etc.) were carried out thoroughly and without omission, just as they were during the first procedure. These assessments were conducted under the supervision of an anesthesiologist, and the patient was cleared for surgery.
"However, before the hair transplant procedure began and during the preparatory phase, the patient unexpectedly became unwell for reasons that are still unknown. Immediate medical intervention was provided, and he was urgently transferred to a fully equipped university hospital. Despite ongoing intensive care treatment throughout the day, the patient sadly passed away later that evening.
"Our clinic is an experienced medical institution that has performed over 70,000 hair transplant procedures to date. All relevant medical documentation related to this incident has been submitted to the appropriate authorities, and the matter is currently being investigated by judicial bodies.
"Unfortunately, much of the information circulating in the media does not reflect the truth. Claims suggesting that the patient passed away during the procedure or that the operation was interrupted midway are incorrect. The incident occurred before the hair transplant procedure had begun. Due to the ongoing legal process and out of respect for the family's privacy, no further details will be disclosed at this time."
The Foreign Office said: "We are supporting the family of a British man who died in Turkey and are in contact with the local authorities." The Turkish Healthcare Travel Council reports over one million people travel to Turkey annually for hair restoration treatments.
The tourist's body was transferred to the Forensic Medicine Institute for an autopsy following his death on Monday. Local reports say the man's body has now been repatriated back to Britain. Last year, data from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons showed that the number of people requiring hospital treatment in the UK after cosmetic surgery abroad rose by 94 per cent in three years. Complications included wound healing and even sepsis.
Over three quarters of those procedures were carried out in Turkey, but other countries included the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland and Romania. Brits head to these destinations mostly for the reduced prices, which can be up to 70 per cent cheaper than in the UK.