### Gwynedd Man Issues Cautionary Tale After Ignoring Post-Op Hair Transplant Guidance
A young man from Gwynedd was left with a severely swollen face after failing to heed medical guidelines following a hair transplant procedure carried out in Turkey. The incident has prompted Ruben Owen, a 24-year-old social media influencer from Abersoch, to caution others considering similar cosmetic interventions abroad.
Ruben underwent the popular hair restoration treatment at a Turkish clinic, aiming to address his concerns about a receding hairline. In return for acting as a model for the clinic’s promotional material, Ruben received the treatment itself at no cost, only paying out-of-pocket for flights, which totalled around £800. Despite the relatively smooth experience during surgery, Ruben admits he was less cautious with his recovery process.
Like many hair transplant patients, Ruben was given strict aftercare instructions to maximise the chances of successful healing. Patients are commonly told to avoid strenuous activities that could cause sweating, including exercise, sunbathing, or sexual activity, for up to two weeks. Ignoring such advice, Ruben engaged in sexual activity the night after his procedure—a decision he would soon regret.
He described waking up the next morning with a face so swollen it looked as if he had been “stung by 100 bees.” Initially, he panicked and searched online for symptoms, fearing he might have contracted a sexually transmitted infection. It wasn’t until later that he realised the extent of his swelling was a direct consequence of ignoring the specialist’s orders.
The scientific rationale behind the ‘no sex’ and ‘no sweating’ rule after a hair transplant is clear: activities that significantly increase heart rate and blood pressure have the potential to compromise delicate healing incisions. Perspiration, in particular, can exacerbate the risk of infection and delay the recovery of newly transplanted hair follicles. In Ruben’s case, the immediate aftermath of his decision included an entire week of severe discomfort and worry as he waited for the swelling in his face and scalp to subside.
Ruben explained, “When I woke up, my head was blown up like a balloon—face puffed, scalp tight, and it genuinely looked like it was going to burst. I honestly thought I’d come down with something serious until I connected it back to what I’d done the night before.” He went on to describe his experience as both terrifying and humiliating, admitting that half his face was so enlarged, it didn’t resemble bruising but rather an extreme allergic reaction.
Although finally reassured by clinic staff that the swelling would dissipate, Ruben says the ordeal left a lasting impression. “It did eventually go down and I avoided an emergency trip to A&E, but it really was something out of a film,” he recalled. “Looking back now, I know it was both risky and foolish.”
Regardless of his challenging recovery, Ruben states that he is ultimately satisfied with the outcome of his hair transplant. However, he is eager to use his story to highlight the importance of listening to medical advice, especially when travelling abroad for cosmetic treatments where aftercare can be more complicated.
Ruben’s misadventure has since become a humorous tale among his friends and online followers, but he hopes to serve as a lesson to others: “These instructions are given for a reason. I definitely learned my lesson the weird way and I’d urge anyone considering a transplant, or any surgery, to stick to the guidelines—even if you think you’ll be the exception.”
Medical professionals consistently warn patients about the increased risks associated with cosmetic surgery tourism, not just regarding the procedures themselves, but also in the critical recovery period that follows. For many, Ruben’s story underscores how easily complications can arise from simple lapses in judgement—and how some mistakes are best avoided, rather than laughed about in hindsight.