Woman sends husband to £6,000 procedure after holiday photo disappointment

A hairdresser paid £5,600 for her husband to have a hair transplant after a holiday photo and jokes from friends seriously affected his self-esteem.

Ben Ashman, 46, received the procedure as a gift from his wife Jo, 45, after he missed two separate hair transplant appointments in Turkey. The mum-of-three wanted to help boost her husband’s sagging confidence after he took a photo on holiday which had an unexpected effect on how he saw himself.

Ben became the focus of many jokes from his mates who often joked about his hairline. He finally took a leap of faith in February and underwent the procedure, which involved nearly 2,000 grafts being removed from the back of his head and placed in bald spots near the front of his hairline.

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Now, Ben’s hair is growing back and while it may take up to nine months to see real results, he said he has become “very happy” with his image and has regained his confidence. The construction worker told PA Real Life: “I’ve got a couple of mates I’ve been friends with since school and we chat to each other all the time.

“I’m probably the worst at giving as much as they are, but it starts to wear on you when the same thing happens over and over and it’s something that really bothers me. They told me that my forehead has grown and things like that.

“They’re breaking out now because I’ve done my hair and they’ll say ‘I preferred the old you, not the new you.’ We’ll grow up one day, but it’s pretty funny.

“Now I just laugh and tell them maybe they should get a hair transplant.” He continued: “These are friends I’ve had since we were very young and we’re always chatting and taking the mic from each other, but they were telling me I was going bald and sneaking up on me.

“They used to make fun of a tattoo I had which I ended up covering up as a result, but my hair wasn’t something I could cover up.”

It was a day trip to Athens in September 2023 that would change Ben’s perception of himself. During the holiday, a photographer took a picture of the pair, forcing Ben to see how ‘thin’ his hair was getting.

Ben said: “I contacted some clinics in Turkey to ask about a hair transplant but backed out because I wasn’t sure. They were all over WhatsApp, you send them pictures and then they hit you with a price and how many grafts you’re going to do without seeing anyone face to face. So, I was a little unsure about it.”

However, Jo gave him a big surprise one day out in London. She told Ben they were just going to a nearby shop, however, she actually took him to Harley Street where she had secretly set up a consultation at the Wimball Clinic.

Ben added: “We sat down with the doctor who gave me great confidence in the process and how the treatment would go. The clinics I had asked about in Turkey had said I would need about 3,500 grafts, but the Wimpole Clinic said I would need about 2,000 because more could damage the hair.”

Ben, from West Malling, Kent, underwent the procedure in February 2024 and while it could take just under a year to see the final results, he is already delighted with the progress that has been made. “I’m still in the development process and they say it takes about six to nine months to fully develop. Well, I’m three months in and I’m already impressed,” he said.

“The clinic gave me a few numbers and sent me messages, but I didn’t have any problems or anything. I am absolutely fine with the procedure, it was perfect.”

He added: “I’m a lot more confident now. I like to play sports, golf and stuff, so I used to wear a hat all the time to cover my hairline, but I haven’t worn hats since I had the treatment. Joe also commented that I look much happier now.’

Jo added: “One of my best friends booked a surprise birthday trip for her husband – his best friend Ben – in September 2023. We, along with another couple who are also great friends, all got together in Athens as an extra surprise.

“When we took a photo of Ben and I, it revealed a huge bald patch on the side of Ben’s head. He was upset when he saw how obvious it was and it completely ruined the day because I knew how upset he was.

“That’s when I decided I had to do something. I started planning and looking for hair transplants.

“I had some money set aside for a few holidays this year but when I found the right hair transplant clinic I decided to make it a surprise gift for Ben instead of a holiday. I took him for a consultation first and then booked him.

“It was in February. Three months later we are already seeing the results. Ben’s confidence is growing back along with his hair.”