New Delhi - (AFP) - When the Indian , Athar Rashid, began to notice the beginnings of baldness, he decided to undergo a hair transplant in order to regain his beauty and be able to marry, but the young man in charge of a television station did not realize that this operation, which was safe in principle, would cost him his life.

Women have always been judged based on their appearance, but in an Indian society where tendencies towards material appearances are increasing, men have also begun to take care of their appearance for fear of losing their social status.

Men with premature baldness are increasingly resorting to hair transplantation as incomes rise and focus on personal appearance increases.

But in a poorly regulated sector, this process, sometimes carried out by amateurs training on YouTube, can have fatal consequences.

Rashid was the only breadwinner for his family and he aspired to a better life... buying a house and marrying off his two sisters.

But he contracted blood poisoning after undergoing a hair transplant at a clinic in New Delhi last year, his mother, Asia Begum, 62, told AFP.

"My son died a very painful death. His kidneys stopped working and then all his other organs collapsed," she added.

Armed with photos showing Rashid's face swollen and a black rash spreading all over his body in his final hours, the family filed a complaint with the police.

Four people, including the two men who performed the surgery, have been arrested and are awaiting trial.

"I remember my son every day and die a slow death," said Asia, sitting in her modest rented apartment in a slum in the capital. "I lost my son but I don't want any other mother to lose her son because of the fraudulent practices of a handful of people."

When performed by a skilled surgeon, hair transplantation can be a life-changing experience and boost confidence especially for young Indians looking for personal and professional growth.

Harish Iyer, a human rights activist and social commentator, said men are starting to focus more on taking care of themselves as their lifestyles change.

"The need to show youth and vitality is an issue that is gaining more and more importance for both sexes," he told AFP.

But at the same time, specialists say that lifestyles characterized by inactivity, smoking, improper diets and stress may lead to early hair loss.

Hair transplantation involves removing follicles from a hairy area such as the back of the head and implanting them in the bald area.

Dr. Mayank Singh performs up to 15 operations a month in his high-end clinic in a posh neighborhood of New Delhi.

Most of his patients are between the ages of 25 and 35 and they seek either marriage or career advancement, especially in jobs where appearance is important.

The operation costs around 350,000 rupees ($4,300), which is a lot of money in a country where millions live on less than $2 a day.

Therefore, many resort to unlicensed clinics that employ unqualified people, but their prices are low.
Singh, who is also a prominent member of the Association of Hair Transplant Surgeons of India, said these swindlers are tarnishing the reputation of the industry.

"People believe in the myth that this operation is simple, while the duration of the surgery is very long, up to between six and eight hours," he added.

"It involves gradually giving the patient local anesthesia. If the person performing the operation does not have sufficient knowledge about that, it may become an unsafe procedure," he explained.

India's National Medical Commission issued a warning in September over the increase in clinics, which often offer substandard service at discounted rates.

"Watching during workshops or on YouTube or similar platforms is not considered sufficient training to perform cosmetic procedures, including hair transplantation," she said.

Singh noted that it is necessary to adhere to the guidelines.

He has a long list of satisfied clients, including 29-year-old doctor Lakshmi Narayanan, who for years avoided social events because of his baldness.

"My hair started falling out at the age of 18," he told AFP. "I used to avoid taking pictures of myself or even looking in the mirror."

"But it is no longer the case. I can interact confidently with people now and I am looking for a life partner," he added.