A hair transplant surgeon who has worked with famous names says he's getting more and more women coming to him, because "hair thinning and bald patches" does not only affect men. But Dr Matee Rajput said he doesn't always say yes to people.
Dr Rajput, 41, has made a name for himself treating celebs including Katie Price, TOWIE's James Lock, Love Island's Jack Fincham and Rosie Williams and EastEnders star Jo Swash. But he said he also treated "guys who work at Tesco" - and not all request are accepted, reports MyLondon. Dr Rajput, who struggled with hair loss himself, resulting in a transplant in 2019, said it can stem from medical conditions, hormones, ageing or be heredity.
Discussing his patients, he said: “I’ve had patients who haven’t left the house for three months because of how they look and then after the treatment they are hugging everyone [being more social]. Covid played a huge role in how people saw themselves, they were constantly seeing their faces reflected back at them in a rectangle box on a screen and many decided to change their appearance. After treatments people send me pictures of their weddings or holidays, they want me to share their progress with others and the difference it has made to them.”
Transplants are done by using hair follicles from one part of the body, removing each root individually and transplanting it into the scalp. The procedure is carried out under anaesthetic and can last for six to eight hours. Patients can expect to see hair shedding after 14 to 21 days, followed by the growth of new hair within a few months. The full results can take up to 12 to 18 months.
Dr Rajput, who trained as a medical doctor at Kings College London, said: "We need to get rid of the taboo around hair transplants. If someone needed to get their teeth fixed they wouldn’t think twice about going to do that, but with hair transplants, even thought it’s more visible there is still a stigma.
“It used to be only the richest people and the celebrities who had these sorts of treatments but at my clinic we’ve made sure to make prices affordable for everyone. I have treated everyone from the guy who works at Tesco to one of the richest men in the world.”
He added: "My consultations are more patient-led, I really want to help people achieve what they want. There are people who want to make drastic changes who think the solution for their mental wellbeing, but sometimes I do advise people to see a medical professional like a psychiatrist to help them before working with them. The decision-making is for the patient to do and they choose their hairline, but if it goes beyond their natural hairline, I feel less inclined to agree to the procedure.”
Having also treated Love Island star Rosie Williams, who had a hair transplant after her hair thinning and bald patches, which affected her mental health, Dr Rajput said in his experience “women don’t seem to discuss hair loss as much as men, it just doesn’t happen”. He added that he wanted to move forward with his work by tackling the taboo around hair transplants when it comes to women.
Whilst his daily life is clinics and celebrity clients, Dr Rajput is a founding member of Samr Trust. The trust helps local communities in Punjab, Pakistan, in their latest project they are working to build a hospital.
Speaking about the charity which was set up in memory of his late father Sana, Dr Rajput said: “Charity is the best thing for mental well being, even research shows this.” The charity focuses on giving the local community tools to feel empowered including education and providing healthcare.
