Drag race star reveals severely swollen head triggered by hair transplant surgery that 'makes me look like Sloth from the Goonies'
Bimini, star of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, has shared unsightly complications of their recent hair transplant — including extreme swelling that's caused their head to balloon.
In a clip shared to the drag queen's TikTok, Bimini compared their new appearence to that of the character Sloth in the 1985 classic adventure film, The Goonies.
Bimini, the stage name of Thomas George Graeme Hibbitts, recently revealed on Instagram that they were undergoing a hair transplant to restore their hairline which began receeding when the star was 13 years old.
'I was quite self-conscious about it right up until about 2018 when I cut my hair into a mullet,' said Bimini. 'I still knew I wanted to get a transplant at some point.'
Bimini, the stage name of Thomas George Graeme Hibbitts, recently revealed the aftermath of their hair transplant
Now it appears the procedure, which was performed in the UK, has resulted in a common side effect that happens when fluid collects below the scalp.
This is due to fighter cells and other inflammatory proteins sent by the immune system rushing to the site of the injury to ward off potential infection.
In a TikTok video, which has now had two million views, Bimini, who was a runner up in the second season of the hugely popular reality show, said: 'A natural part of the healing process when you get a hair transplant is facial swelling as all of the anesthesia and fluid drains from your face.
'So it's the trauma and the response to that to the body. But nobody f***ing told me that I was going to like the Goonies.'
To emphasize their point Bimini, 31, posted a pick of the iconic character Sloth from the adventure comedy film alongside text under the video which read: 'Sign me up for the goonies reboot'.
Bimini, originally from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, previously detailed on Instagram how they had wanted a hair transplant since around the age of 13.
'From around the age of 13/14 I started to recede and when I was discovering my identity and who I was it was something about myself and my body that was so masculine and I couldn’t control.
'I was quite self-conscious about it right up until about 2018 when I cut my hair into a mullet.
'This is something quite personal and I feel vulnerable sharing but I’m here to own it as I know I won’t be the only person that has felt like this.'
Hair transplants are cosmetic procedures that involve surgically moving hair harvested from another part of the body, typically the back of the head or chest, to an area on the scalp that's thinning or bald.
The procedure isn't available on the NHS, and costs anywhere between £2,000 to £30,000 to have done privately in the UK depending on the extent of the transplant.
Bimini has not revealed what the cost of their transplant.
It takes about two weeks to recover from the transplant itself but about four month for the new hair to start growing.
The NHS says it is common following a hair transplant for patients to suffer from a tight, achy and swollen scalp for a few days, temporary scabbing from where the hair was transplanted and some small scarring.
Bimini, who placed runner up in season 2 of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK previously detailed how they'd wanted to have a hair transplant since the age of 13 when their hair started receding. Pictured here at the Attitude Pride Awards 2024 in London in June
Documenting their recovery from the procedure, which sees hair harvested from other parts of the body placed on the scalp Bimini posted herself with a pic of Sloth from the The Goonies (pictured) with the text: 'Sign me up for the goonies reboot'.
Bimini underwent their procedure in the UK but many British men fly to Turkey to undergo the procedure at fraction of the price, however some have warned of mixed results
Like any operation a hair transplant isn't risk free and patients can suffer from bleeding, infections, or an allergic reaction to anaesthetic.
The health service urges people considering a hair transplant to do thorough research into both the procedure and the clinic they are considering going to.
This includes seeing if the clinic is registered with health and care watchdog the Care Quality Commission and that the surgeon is registered with the the General Medical Council and if they are a member of the British Association of Hair Restoration Surgery.
However, many British men are opting for overseas transplants performed in surgical tourism destinations like Turkey for a fraction of the price they'd pay in the UK.
But a number have reported less than satisfactory results from going under the knife abroad.
