I spent over $6K on a hair transplant — and people are shocked

Now hair’s a frightening sight. 

A 25-year-old named Tiegan Handsley coughed up over $6,400 to undergo a gruesome hair transplant surgery in an effort to mask her massive forehead. 

And her post-op snapshots are hair-raising

“15 weeks post surgery,” Handsley, a mom of one from the UK, penned in the caption of her viral TikTok testimonial, featuring jarring shots of the 2,655 hair grafts that were implanted into her head by specialists at the UK Hair Transplant Clinic. 

“Originally, I was looking into forehead surgery and had a few consultations,” she admitted the comments section of her post. “I was told due to my natural hairline I probably wouldn’t get the best outcome or what I was looking for. Obviously this is a longer process but I am very pleased.”

Handsley, 25, shared shocking snapshots of her bleeding scalp after she underwent hair transplant surgery to hide her forehead.
Handsley, 25, shared shocking snapshots of her bleeding scalp after she underwent hair transplant surgery to hide her forehead.
TikTok/Tiegan Handsley

Handsley, from the UK, admitted to her TikTok followers that she "hid" her forehead for most of her life.
Handsley, from the UK, admitted to her TikTok followers that she “hid” her forehead for most of her life.
TikTok/Tiegan Handsley


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Her transplant recovery process spanned several months, causing her to remain indoors for the majority of the summer.
Her transplant recovery process spanned several months, causing her to remain indoors for the majority of the summer.
TikTok/Tiegan Handsley


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In a video series comprised of photos of her months-long recovery, which have scared up a combined 4.6 million views, Handsley’s bloody-red scalp is seen with the newly injected short hairs sprouting out of the follicles

And naturally, a handful of haters chimed in with repugnant remarks, deeming the look of her transformation process “gross” or asking if doctors retrieved the freshly installed hair from her pubic area. 

The contemptuous comments aside, Handsley politely responded to inquiries about the process. 

“I had [the] FUT method,” she explained, referring to the Follicular Unit Transplantation, when a crass critic asked if physician had to shave her back and plant the cut hairs into her head.  

“I didn’t have to have [my back] shaved. No,” she continued. “I had it cut, it’s recommended for women as the scar is not noticeable and [we] don’t have to go through a shaved period.”

Handsley says that she is "very pleased" with the results of her transplant, which cost over $6,400.
Handsley says that she is “very pleased” with the results of her transplant, which cost over $6,400.
TikTok/Tiegan Handsley

Handsley explained to followers that her head was numbed during the implantation process, which minimized the pain of the procedure.
Handsley explained to followers that her head was numbed during the implantation process, which minimized the pain of the procedure.
TikTok/Tiegan Handsley


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Despite the eye-popping appearance of her scalp immediately after surgery, Handsley was inundated with compliments on her new look from supportive TikTok watchers.
Despite the eye-popping appearance of her scalp immediately after surgery, Handsley was inundated with compliments on her new look from supportive TikTok watchers.
TikTok/Tiegan Handsley

The mother of one shared photos of her progress, beginning from day one through week 20.
The mother of one shared photos of her progress, beginning from Day 1 through Week 20.
TikTok/Tiegan Handsley


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When asked to describe the pain, both during and after the procedure, she said: “I would rate it literally a 2 out of 10, the head is numb. But everyone’s pain threshold is different,” and punctuated the comment with a smiley face emoji. 

“I stayed in the house for most of the recovery at the start,” she revealed to a commenter who wondered how she hid the unsightly transplants immediately after surgery. “It was in the summer and it’s not recommended to go into the sun or sweat for a while. But once it started growing back, I got some bangs cut in.”

And despite a few shady snickers from social media cynics, Handsley’s transformation received a massive outpouring of praise and positivity from online audiences. 

“This is awesome! Thanks for normalizing this treatment for other women,” a commentator applauded. 

“You look so good,” said another. 

“Best results I’ve ever seen,” chimed a fan. 

And to the cheers, Handsley replied, “I hid [my forehead] my whole life.”

“I wish when I was younger someone told me big foreheads are beautiful.”