
Treating Baldness with Monkey Testicle Implants
In the early 20th century, a doctor named Serge Voronoff popularized a surgical procedure for treating baldness that involved transplanting small pieces of monkey testicles into the human scrotum. Voronoff believed that the testicles contained a hormone that could stimulate hair growth and slow down the aging process. He claimed that his procedure, which he called “glandular transplantation,” could not only cure baldness but also improve a patient’s libido, boost vitality, and cure constipation.

Despite its questionable medical basis, Voronoff’s procedure gained popularity among the wealthy and famous, including royalty, politicians, and celebrities. Some even underwent the procedure multiple times, hoping to experience the rejuvenating effects that Voronoff promised. However, there was no scientific evidence to support Voronoff’s claims, and the procedure eventually fell out of favor as more effective and reliable treatments for baldness were developed. Today, the procedure is viewed as a prime example of the kind of quackery that was prevalent in the early days of modern medicine.