After receiving a hair-transplant, a retired woman who had been embarrassed for years to take photos or look in the mirror was able to get a new lease of mind. 

Brenda Vickers, 78, from Walkergate, Newcastle upon Tyne, said her confidence was shattered after 20 years of irreversible hair loss and a dramatically receding hairline due to her celiac disease. 

After receiving a replacement hairstyle from Novo Cabelo in Durham, her husband of 56-years, Brian Vickers, she was left in tears. 

Owner Rob Wood shared the moment Brenda teared up after seeing her new look for the first time after he attached a £350 human hair piece on TikTok and the footage has racked up more than half a million views. 

Brenda Vickers, 78, from Walkergate, Newcastle upon Tyne, said her confidence was shattered after 20 years of irreversible hair loss and a dramatically receding hairline because of her celiac disease

Brenda Vickers (78), Walkergate, Newcastle upon Tyne, stated that her confidence was destroyed after 20 years’ of irreversible hairloss and a dramatically receding headline due to her celiac condition.

Earlier this month she was left in tears after receiving a hair replacement from Durham-based firm Novo Cabelo

After receiving a hair-replacement from Durham-based Novo Cabelo, she was left in tears.

Brenda, before having her £350 human hair piece fitted earlier this month

Brenda was thrilled with the results of her hair replacement

Owner Rob Wood shared the moment Brenda teared up after seeing her new look for the first time after he attached a £350 human hair piece on TikTok. Brenda is shown before and after her hair transplant. 

It’s good that I don’t have to feel self-conscious when I go outside. Brenda stated that Brenda doesn’t need to feel ashamed or think “I don’t want to look at me” anymore.  

The coeliac patient says that the transformation has increased her confidence, even claiming that her head should be huge with all the compliments she’s received. 

She said, “It’s changed all my life.” ‘I will go out more now that I feel confident, and that’s an incredible feeling. Everyone I’ve met has been so kind and complimentary. 

People have said that I look 20 years younger but that I still have the brain of a 78 year-old. My hair is young, but my body is old. I haven’t seen my hair look this good in so long. 

Brenda's husband of 56 years, Brian Vickers, 81, loves her new look

Brenda says her new hair makes her feel like a younger woman

Brenda’s husband of 56 years, Brian Vickers, 81, (pictured right with Brenda after her hair replacement)  loves her new look (L-R) saying ‘it’s like being married to someone 20 years younger’

Brenda, pictured on her wedding day, said that in her younger years 'I had tonnes of hair. I had the beehive hairstyle and the fashion came around three times. I had piles of dark hair'

Brenda, pictured on Brenda’s wedding day, stated that she had tonnes of hair in her younger years. I had the beehive haircut and it came back three times. I had a lot of dark hair. 

Brenda, pictured as she had began to lose her hair, believes her hair loss is due to the immune system disorder celiac

Brenda, pictured as she had began to lose her hair, believes she has been suffering with the disease for 20 years

Brenda is shown as she lost her hair. She believes that her hair loss may be due to celiac disease, which she was diagnosed in 2017. However, she claims she has been suffering from it for over 20 years.

Brenda said she was anxious prior to the procedure, but was’stunned” after seeing the results, which were ‘astonishing’. 

What is celiac? 

Celiac disease, also known as genetic autoimmune disorder, is caused by gluten-related damage to the small intestine. This causes inflammation that affects the body’s ability absorb nutrients from food.

One in 100 people around the world is affected by this condition, and there are approximately three million Americans living with it.

There are more than 200 symptoms. The most common include abdominal bloating, pain, chronic diarrhea and vomiting, constipation and weight loss.

The only treatment is to eat a gluten-free diet.

Source: Celiac Disease Foundation

“I was nervous because of the fear of the unknown. It felt like I was going through a major operation without anaesthetic. But I just went with it. It was impossible to imagine how it would end.

“When I saw it, I was shocked. It was so soft that I felt the hair. I haven’t felt it in my hair for so many years. It doesn’t feel foreign to you. It’s incredible. I was emotional. 

Brenda was embarrassed to have her photo taken before she had her hair replaced. She would avoid looking in a mirror because she saw her hair falling out. 

She said, “I let it grow and pinned it up with a clip that pinned it back and somehow camouflaged my crown of hair.” It was just receding in and out all the while and it brought down my self confidence.

“When I was younger, I had tons of hair. I wore the beehive style three times. I had a lot of dark hair. I had a lot of thin hair, although it was never curly.

Brian said that it was like being married to someone twenty years younger. It’s good that I still have lots of hair.

“[The transformation]It’s beautiful, so I’m so happy to be her. It’s perfect. It’s perfect.

Brenda's husband Brian, pictured with her before her hair replacement, said his wife 'is beautiful, so I'm so pleased for her. It's spot on. You couldn't ask for anything better'

Brian, Brenda’s husband, was pictured with her before she had her hair replaced. He said that his wife is beautiful and that he is so happy for her. It’s perfect. It’s the best!

‘I was really shocked when I saw her first time. She was very attractive to my eyes. She’s not bad looking, you know?

Brenda believes her hair loss may be due to celiac disease, which she was diagnosed with in 2017. However, she says that she has been suffering from the condition for 20 years.

Brenda was fed up with her bald head and asked a friend if they knew anyone who could help. They referred Brenda to Rob, who invited her to a consultation at his Seaham, County Durham salon.

They chose her bob style and Rob hired a chair in a salon in Gateshead Tyne and Wear to perform the transformation and film it. 

A family friend referred Brenda to Rob who invited her for a consultation at his salon in Seaham, County Durham. She is pictured with her eyes covered ahead of her hair reveal

Brenda was referred to Rob by a friend of the family who invited her to his salon in Seaham County Durham. She is seen with her eyes closed as her hair is revealed. 

Rob is pictured fitting Brenda's 'hair system' which includes a stretchy 'polyskin' membrane attached to her head and existing hair with double-sided adhesive tape made especially for skin

Brenda had her eyes covered with glasses ahead of the big reveal

Rob is seen fitting Brenda’s ‘hair system’, which includes a stretchy membrane called ‘polyskin’ attached to her head and existing locks with double-sided adhesive tape designed for skin.

The ‘hair system” includes a stretchy polyskin membrane attached to her head, and existing hair with double-sided adhesive tape specially made for skin.

It will last approximately six months. Brenda will need to have her hair cut by her regular hairdresser, who she insists she will still visit for her weekly appointment.

Rob, who proudly declares he’s on an international mission to “ride the world of anyone hating hair loss”, says Brenda is so happy after two decades with low self-esteem.

Rob said, “When I met her and learned that she’s been doing this for 20 years, it was clear to me that she was the right person for the job.”

Rob (pictured) says it feels great to see Brenda so happy after two decades of low self-esteem

Pictured, the moment Brenda saw her new hair for the first time and burst into tears

Pictured is Brenda’s moment when she saw her new hair and burst into tears. Rob (pictured) says it feels great to see Brenda so happy after two decades of low self-esteem 

Brenda admitted she was anxious before the procedure but was 'stunned' after seeing the results, which she dubbed 'astounding'

Brenda said she was anxious prior to the procedure, but was’stunned” after seeing the results, which were ‘astonishing’.

“She used the length as a crutch so we wanted to give it something a little more modern. I wanted a style that was easy to manage.

“She was open-minded to any ideas, so I asked her about working with me on the video when her character came out.

“It made my heart happy to see her so happy. It’s wonderful that she’s more confident about going out now, and the reaction has been phenomenal.

“It shows that you are never too old for this. You should cut your hair if you are unhappy with your hair. It’s a shame that this generation tends to be oblivious to their hair.