The average death rate from cosmetic surgery in recent years is around 1 in 3,000, according to Turkey’s Ministry of Health, but despite the risks, thousands of people still undergo the procedure abroad.
Dolly, 21, from Melbourne, has traveled all over the world to undergo numerous beauty treatments (Humphrey Nemar)
British tourists are ignoring the risks of cheap cosmetic surgery in Turkey, insisting they will continue to fly there for further treatment.
The tragic death of Morgan Riviero this month has put a renewed focus on this vibrant trade, which is estimated to generate £20bn a year. Bargain prices on basements come with risks. More than 25 British nationals have died from knife attacks since 2019 alone.
According to the Turkish Ministry of Health, the average death rate from cosmetic surgery in recent years is approximately 1 in 3,000. But despite the risks, the Mirror watched as tourists from the UK and around the world descended on Istanbul this week in search of tummy tucks, bum lifts and a ‘glow’. There were visitors from as far away as Australia and Canada.
More than 100,000 foreigners undergo surgery in Turkey each year, often because it is much cheaper than in their home country. Ben Lee, 28, from Leeds came in for a hair transplant. He dismissed the danger, telling the Mirror: You can’t stop that temptation.
“I honestly didn’t think much of it because it makes it so much easier and I didn’t think there was that much of a risk when it came to my hair. If I wanted something a little more invasive, I might think again.” But for something simple, there’s no arguing with the price. You just have to be smart.
Many of the country’s 913 plastic surgery clinics offer visitors complete packages that include airport transportation, hotel stays, and even shuttles to and from their appointments. Depending on the treatment, the cost can be less than £3,000. I saw lively vans from many clinics in Istanbul constantly ferrying visitors to and from their appointments.
Hotel lobbies and breakfast rooms resemble hospitals where bandaged patients shuffle from room to room recovering from procedures. One of them was Dolly, a 21-year-old dancer from Melbourne, who had traveled around the world undergoing various treatments.
She said: “I was planning to come earlier, but to be honest, I was really scared. But then my friend said, “I’m going to have a boob job done, so you can come with me.” And she’s Turkish. So I thought, “What would I do if she were my girlfriend?” I can do it, I’m sure it’ll be okay. So I had a Brazilian butt lift, liposuction, mini-breast lift, and breast augmentation and sub-facial surgery.
“I paid around US$8,500 (£6,688). I was worried about safety at first, but yes, I was a little skeptical. I didn’t want to go home with one kidney. , the results have been better. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to get in shape now, but be sure to find out what each clinic is and what they have to offer. You need to check.”
Earlier this week, we reported on the tragic case of Morgan Ribiero, who died after undergoing gastric sleeve surgery at a private hospital in Istanbul. This surgery removes a large portion of the stomach, leaving only a sleeve of organs, allowing patients to feel full faster. Private treatment in the UK costs between £8,000 and £10,000.
Morgan Ribeiro dies from complications after weight loss surgery Australian dancer Dolly, 21, traveled to Turkey to undergo extensive plastic surgery at a clinic in Istanbul. (Humphrey Nemar)
Mr Ribiero paid just £2,500 for the surgery in Turkey. She returned home on January 9, but on her flight back to London she went into septic shock. Her flight diverted her to Serbia, where she received emergency treatment in Belgrade. Four days later, Ribeiro died from complications.
Her mother, Erin Gibson, 44, told the Mirror she wanted social media advertisements for the procedure to include details about the risks, including death and injury. According to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), 324 Britons have required treatment or corrective surgery after being stabbed overseas since 2018.
They revealed that Turkey is the biggest source of failed operations as more people try to resemble their celebrity idols. Almost 80% of patients requiring corrective surgery were originally treated in surgical tourism centers such as Istanbul and Ankara. Other major surgery destinations for Britons include the Czech Republic and Lithuania, BAAPS said.
Failed cosmetic surgery costs the NHS millions of pounds each year. News of Morgan’s death broke in Turkey this week, but visitors we spoke to said it did not deter them from getting their own plastic surgery.
Ahsan Ashraf, 45, traveled to Turkey to undergo extensive plastic surgery at a clinic in Istanbul (Humphrey Nemar)
Lisa, 43, from Kirkby, Merseyside, came in for rhinoplasty and said she wasn’t too worried about it going wrong.
she said: “I was a little worried. I hear a lot of scary stories, but to be honest, I wondered what the chances were. If the clinic I went to was so shabby, I would have just left it. What happened to Morgan was really sad, and I’m not saying it wasn’t our fault, but at the end of the day, what I did wasn’t that serious.”
Ahsan Ashraf, 45, from Canada, came to receive a hair transplant. He said, “I wish I had come here 10 years earlier.” But I chose Turkey after doing a lot of research.
“It’s very attractive, and when you go to the website, you can immediately link via WhatsApp, so you can easily get in touch with many clinics right away. But the best way is to do your own research and find local Ask the right questions to the experts. I’m very happy with the process.”
