RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Bimini has reported unsightly complications from her recent hair transplant, including extreme swelling that has left her head swollen.
In a clip the drag queen shared on TikTok, Bimini compared their new look to that of the character Sloth in the classic 1985 adventure film The Goonies.
Bimini, the stage name of Thomas George Graeme Hibbitts, recently revealed on Instagram that he underwent a hair transplant to restore his hairline, which began receding when the star was 13 years old.
“I was pretty insecure about it until I cut my hair into a mullet in 2018,” Bimini said. “But I knew I wanted to get a hair transplant at some point.”
Bimini, the stage name of Thomas George Graeme Hibbitts, recently revealed the aftermath of their hair transplant
Now it turns out the procedure, which was performed in the UK, has a common side effect that occurs when fluid builds up under the scalp.
This is because the immune system sends warring cells and other pro-inflammatory proteins to the site of injury to ward off a potential infection.
In a TikTok videowhich has now been viewed two million times, said Bimini, who finished second in the second season of the hugely popular reality show: ‘A natural part of the healing process after a hair transplant is that the face will swell up as all the anesthesia and fluid drains from your face.
“So it’s the trauma and the body’s response to it. But nobody fucking told me I would like Goonies.”
To emphasize their point, Bimini, 31, posted a photo of the iconic character Sloth from the adventure comedy film, captioning the video: “Sign me up for the Goonies reboot.”
Bimini, originally from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, previously shared on Instagram that she had wanted a hair transplant since she was around 13 years old.
‘From the age of 13/14 I started to withdraw. When I discovered my identity and who I was, there was something in myself and my body that was so masculine and that I couldn’t control.
‘I was quite ashamed of it until I cut my hair into a mullet in 2018.
“This is something very personal and I feel vulnerable sharing it, but I’m here to express it because I know I’m not the only one who feels this way.”
Hair transplants are cosmetic procedures in which hair harvested from another part of the body, usually the back of the head or chest, is surgically transferred to an area of the scalp that is thinning or bald.
The procedure is not available through the NHS and costs between £2,000 and £30,000 if you have it done privately in the UK, depending on the size of the transplant.
Bimini has not disclosed how much the transplant cost.
The recovery from the hair transplant itself takes about two weeks, but it takes about four months for the new hair to start growing.
According to the NHS, it is common for patients to experience a tight, painful and swollen scalp for a few days after a hair transplant, temporary crusting at the site of the hair transplant and some minor scarring.
Bimini, who came second on season 2 of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, previously revealed that she had wanted a hair transplant since she was 13 and her hair started receding. Pictured here at the 2024 Attitude Pride Awards in London in June
Bimini documented their recovery from the procedure, which involves harvesting hair from other parts of the body and transplanting it onto the scalp. She posted a photo of The Goonies’ Sloth (pictured) with the caption, “Sign me up for the Goonies reboot.”
Bimini underwent the procedure in the UK, but many British men fly to Turkey to undergo the procedure for a fraction of the price. However, some have warned of mixed results.
As with any surgery, hair transplantation is not without risk. Patients may experience bleeding, infection or an allergic reaction to the anesthesia.
The health service advises people considering hair transplantation to thoroughly research both the procedure and the clinic they choose to go to.
This checks whether the clinic is registered with the Care Quality Commission, a health watchdog, and whether the surgeon is registered with the General Medical Council. It also checks whether he/she is a member of the British Association of Hair Restoration Surgery.
However, many British men choose to have transplants abroad in tourist destinations such as Turkey, where the transplants cost a fraction of the price they would pay in the UK.
But some of them reported that their efforts abroad had less than stellar results.
