Millions of Brits are going to extreme lengths to ‘look perfect’ and are risking their lives for plastic surgery abroad.
Once a beauty method loved by only the rich and famous – plastic surgery appears available to everyone. Budget procedures abroad are becoming increasingly popular for cash-strapped Britons.
Thousands of people flaunt procedures on social media, showing off new teeth, new breasts or a new bum. But many don’t return home to their families.
The Office of National Statistics (ONS) estimated that the number of people travelling abroad for surgery almost doubled over four years, with 248,000 UK residents choosing the option in 2019 compared to 120,000 in 2015.
Despite the serious nature of surgery, patients are choosing to skip NHS waiting lists or dodge UK surgery fees in a bid to create their ‘perfect selves’. But success stories are peppered with those of horror.
‘Zoom Boom’ and affordability
The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) said last year it believes the sudden surge in overseas surgery is a result of the ‘Zoom Boom’, which describes how the nation became more conscious of their appearances after seeing themselves on screen all day during the pandemic.
Turkey in the Middle East in particular has become a mecca of affordable cosmetic procedures. Clinics there can charge less for their services as rent and medical facility costs are much cheaper than in the West, with patients expecting to pay 30 to 70 per cent less.
In a UK private hospital, gastric sleeve surgery – which involves the insertion of a silicone band around the stomach so people feel fuller sooner – costs £8,000 to £10,000, but in Turkey it can be as little as £2,500. A nose job in the UK could set you back around £4,000 to £7,000 but in Turkey, it can be from £3,000 including transfers and hotel. The cost of liposuction in Turkey can come in at around £1,500 to £3,000, compared to UK prices of £5,000 to £12,000.
Our sister title The Mirror revealed last year how a Turkish medical company was offering cheap plastic surgery in time for Christmas, with deals promoted at an event in Hull. The reporter enquired about having a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL).
In a 30-minute consultation, the patient coordinator admitted to having no medical credentials, yet brazenly outlined a treatment plan.
She was offered a discount on flights and advised to book by January to avoid price rises, saying the operation could be done as soon as December 22. Professor Mani Ragbir, President of BAAPs said he was “very, very concerned” about the findings.
Hidden dangers
There are indeed strict standards, as the Turkish Ministry of Health regulates practitioners and hospitals, while its health professionals must join recognised associations before being able to practice. So where do things go wrong?
With surgery packages sounding more like holiday getaways to warmer climates, the trend of using glossy adverts with discounted prices for multiple procedures at once has alarmed the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), who have argued some companies have trivialised going on the operating table.
There have been instances of crossed wires, perhaps down to a language barrier, with patients leaving hospitals with ‘enhancements’ they never asked for – or having to leave early after finding that aftercare comes at a further charge.
BAAPS told ITV News last year about a 26-year-old woman who was left severely traumatised after she travelled abroad for a procedure, only to end up with a facelift that she never asked for. In another case, a man travelled to Turkey for a hair transplant, and the following day was given a special offer for eyelid surgery, which resulted in complications.
As the NHS warns, no surgery is risk-free. Complications can happen after surgery in the UK or abroad. Air travel after major surgery increases your risk of a blood clot, which can be life-threatening. It’s recommended you do not fly for five to seven days after procedures such as breast surgery and liposuction and seven to 10 days after facial cosmetic procedures or tummy tucks.
Patients have ended up returning from Turkey only to need NHS treatment after all, with problems ranging from oozing wounds to life-threatening sepsis. Alarming figures by BAAPS show the number of people requiring hospital treatment after procedures abroad has shot up by 94 per cent in three years, with operations in Turkey accounting for more than three-quarters of those.
Professor Omar Khan, Consultant Bariatric Surgeon at Ashtead Hospital, part of Ramsay Health Care UK, recently featured on the BBC’s Getting Thin Quick documentary, which highlighted the dangers of bariatric surgery in Turkey. Speaking with the Mirror, he warned: “The key issue with any form of surgery is safety – for patients travelling abroad for weight loss surgery, there may be real question marks over the quality of pre-operative assessment and the lack of follow-up care offered to these patients.”
Fixing botched surgery cost the NHS £1.7million in 2022, up 35 per cent from 2021. According to the Foreign Office, more than 25 people from the UK are known to have died following medical procedures in Turkey since 2019. In recent days, Morgan Ribeiro’s name has tragically been added to the list.
Tragic deaths
Carol Keenan died while in Turkey for cosmetic surgery.
Carol Keenan passed away in April 2022 after heading to Istanbul for a Brazilian butt lift and tummy tuck. The gran of eight, from Fife, collapsed while making her way to hospital to receive her fit-to-fly home letter from a doctor.
The 54-year-old went into cardiac arrest and never recovered. Her autopsy results confirmed she died due complications from her surgeries.
Her partner and daughter say on the day of the procedures, she was offered a free third surgery, abdominal repair, and agreed to it without being given full information or time to consider the pros and cons.
Carol’s daughter, Leonie(Image: STV News)
Daughter Leonie previously told how her mum was a size 10/12 but she believes due to social media standards and celebrity pictures harbouring unrealistic beauty standards, Carol was convinced she had to change her own physical appearance.
Carol’s family called on the Scottish Government to take action to prevent other families from going through a similar hell.
Morgan Ribeiro, 20, who was bullied for years for her size, died after weight loss surgery in Turkey. She fell ill on the plane as she flew home with her 19-year-old partner Jamie Brewster. Her small intestine had allegedly been cut accidentally during the £2,500 gastric sleeve operation, and Morgan died on January 13. The surgeon has denied this.
Morgan Ribeiro shared this TikTok before going to Turkey for gastric sleeve operation
Morgan Ribeiro with Jamie Brewster
After the operation on January 5, she fell ill with septic shock on the plane home and the flight had to be diverted to Serbia, where she died. Her mum Erin Gibson, 44, had no idea Morgan was going abroad for surgery.
Doctors in Serbia discovered Morgan’s small intestine had been cut.They had removed 10cm of her small intestine and hoped she would pull through. But on January 9, Morgan suffered a heart attack and she died four days later at 4am.
The Mirror traced the doctor who performed surgery – Dr Serkan Bayil – who said her death had nothing to do with the operation and claimed she died due to an embolism on the plane. “Her vital signs were good when she left us,” he said at the private hospital. “The most fearful thing in these operations is leakage and she had zero leakage and because of this I think she had an embolism.”
Mum Sophie Hunt, who “wanted to look a million bucks” died in March 2022 after travelling to Turkey, for liposuction and a tummy tuck. Two days after the procedure, the 34-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest.
(Image: Natasha Kerr / JustGiving)
Melissa Kerr was another, who died at a private hospital at the age of 31 in 2019 following Brazilian butt-lift surgery. A coroner raised concerns she and others were not given enough information before travelling abroad.
Rotting breasts
(Image: Collette Pickering)
Chloe Rose, from West Yorkshire, was left fearing for her life after travelling to Turkey for a breast uplift. Her sister-in-law Collette Pickering, 27, shared the gruesome story as she urged others to cancel their planned surgeries.
Chloe, 22, had been conscious of her fuller bust for years and decided to go under the knife. She was left screaming in pain after waking up from the operating table.
As graphic images show, her nipples turned into oozing, open sores. Collette claims surgeons removed too much skin, resulting in her circulation being cut off and her nipple dying. Chloe says an interpreter was included in her package, however, she had to rely on Google Translate once in the hospital with no English-speaking doctors.
(Image: Collette Pickering)
She claims cannulas were poorly inserted and needles were left lying around the room. The blood drained from her was allegedly sometimes left in the toilet bowl, and her stitches were reopened without her understanding why, and without pain relief.
The duo say her wounds were only restitched halfway, with Chloe left with open wounds. They claim that it was only after speaking to the British Embassy that Chloe was given antibiotics to treat the infection, however, her health didn’t improve.
She was able to return home on a medical-assisted flight after the family set up a fundraising page. Once she was on UK soil, she was blue-lighted to hospital and is now receiving treatment for necrosis – the death of body tissue.
Shark teeth
Jade during the procedure (Image: Courtesy Jade Tushingham / SWNS)
Kelly and Jade (R) Tushingham had their teeth shaved down (Image: Courtesy Jade Tushingham / SWNS)
‘Turkey Teeth’ is another procedure gaining popularity for Brits. The Hollywood smile is lusted after but many patients end up with ‘shark teeth’ after their teeth are ground down to stumps to sit under giant veneers.
One couple who flew to Turkey warned others about surgery after spending £4,000 on veneers. The duo said they were in “constant pain” and were barely able to eat or drink.
Jade Tushingham, 32, and partner Kelly Tushingham, 30, travelled to Antalya, in September 2022 to have veneers after being lured in by the cheaper prices.
Their trip turned into a “nightmare” which they said has “ruined their lives”. The pair each had to have their teeth filed down, which they say caused them “instant pain”.
Jade and Kelly after having their teeth veneered(Image: Jade Tushingham/ SWNS)
Temporary veneers had to be kept in for five days before they could get their permanent ones and in the meantime, their shaved-down stubs made it difficult for them to eat or drink due to the sensitivity. When they finally returned for their permanent veneers, Jade said there was “blood everywhere”.
Four months after the trip, they were still in constant pain despite them looking visually “lovely”. No dentists in the UK would “even touch them” to get them fixed, and have said they might have to fly back to Turkey in a bid to get them fixed.
Model Jack James, also forked out £3,000 on a set of veneers and travelled to Istanbul. The 22-year-old was happy, but shortly after he suffered “terrible breath” and bleeding.
A UK dentist quoted £20k to refit the veneers so he was forced to return to Turkey to start again.
It took a few weeks for the infection to clear,” he said.
He added: “It was like something out of a horror movie.”
The UK Foreign Office warns travellers about medical tourism in Turkey. “The standard of medical facilities and available treatments can vary widely globally,” their website states. “We are aware of over 25 British nationals who have died in Turkey since January 2019 following medical procedures. There were reports of an outbreak of botulism linked to weight loss treatments performed in Istanbul and Izmir in February 2023.”
If you are considering travelling to Turkey for medical, surgical or dental treatment, the FCO states you should:
read more advice on going abroad for medical treatment and elective surgery
discuss plans with your UK doctor before going ahead with any medical procedures abroad
do your own research – private companies have a financial interest in arranging your medical treatment abroad and the information they provide should not be your only source of information
The Turkish Ministry of Health provides a list of its approved medical providers on the HealthTurkiye website. This website is for information only. FCDO does not make any recommendation of or endorsement as to the competence or suitability of any individual or facility. It is important that individuals make their own enquiries and due diligence checks.
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