“You Look Like Frankenstein”: Chris Bumstead Reveals His Experience After Getting Hair Transplant With Brother-in-Law Iain Valliere

Chris Bumstead, the king of Classic Physique, can often be unintentionally funny. Case in point? His most recent meeting was with Chris Williamson. The bodybuilder and podcaster who invited Bumstead to his podcast last year reunited with the Classic Physique champion. However, this time, instead of sitting inside his studio, Williamson and the bodybuilding icon trained together.

During their training, Chris Bustead hilariously answered how he felt after getting a hair transplant with Iain Valliere. Last year, Cbum and his brother-in-law, who also coached him to his first two Classic Physique Olympia victories, got a hair transplant done in Istanbul, Turkey. So Williamson asked Bumstead, “What’s the recovery been like?” 

However, Chris Bumstead described an uncomfortable and painful initial recovery hilariously. “The first ten days are miserable because your head’s still swollen and you look like Frankenstein,” said the champion bodybuilder. However, what he described seemed like it is quite uncomfortable and painful to deal with. Cbum said they injected water into his scalp.

During the recovery phase, the water came down “behind” his eyes and they felt swollen. However, this was just part of the distress. Chris Bumstead said he was covered in “scabs” and couldn’t even wash his head during the ten days. Finally, he had to sleep on a “prop-up pillow so your head’s not touching anything ever.” Things became easier ten days post-hair transplant.

Cbum could wash his head gently, but the bodybuilder wasn’t allowed to touch any weights for a month following the procedure. If you’re wondering why? The reason was sweat. Chris Bumstead couldn’t even brisk walk because sweat would cause complications. It’s safe to assume that his former coach went through the same ordeal. The 29-year-old also explained that the procedure was quite grueling.

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Chris Bumstead felt the pain

Chris Williamson also asked the Classic Physique champion about how the procedure felt. The reigning Classic Physique Olympia recounted that the transplant took a total of eight hours. The Canadian said that doctors first hit him with local anesthesia on the scalp. “The pain is 9 out of 10,” the champion bodybuilder said about the anesthetic needles. 

After the local anesthesia took hold, they pumped water inside the scalp, and the transplant started. “You’re lying face down for like 4 hours,” explained the bodybuilder. For the rest of the procedure, Chris Bumstead had to lie on his side for two hours and two more on his back.

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Despite the discomfort, Chris Bumstead thought the results would be worth it. The 2024 off-season was also the perfect time for him to do so, as he is taking an extended rest and rehab phase for his past injuries before starting training for the next Olympia.