The reporter contacted cosmetics company Magic Touch. Magic Touch was offering free counseling at an event in Hull to anyone interested in traveling to Turkey at a discounted price before Christmas.
Daily Mirror reporter infiltrates Turkish cosmetic surgery clinic
A Turkish medical company is offering cheap plastic surgery in time for Christmas, a Mirror investigation has revealed, raising safety concerns for patients in the UK.
The deal was promoted at an event in Hull, where dental and cosmetics company MagicTouch offered free consultations to people interested in a treatment trip to Turkey. The Mirror asked about undergoing a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL). At least three British nationals have died after going to Turkey for surgery. During the 30-minute consultation, “patient coordinator” Seville admitted he was not a licensed medical doctor, but had the audacity to outline a treatment plan for a “butt implant” to a reporter.
He suggested discounts on flights, advising people to book by January to avoid price increases, and said they could be implemented as early as December 22. He said, “It’s better to come before next year because there will be changes early next year.” Hospital prices change every year. ” Prices could rise by 10%, she said. She said that buttock enlargement surgery is “very popular” in Turkey because it is “expensive in the UK” and that despite the serious risks associated with it, she has “never” had an implant fail. he claimed.
Mirror’s Amy at Hull Event(Andy Commins / Daily Mirror)
Professor Mani Raghubir, president of the British Association of Plastic Surgeons, said he was “very concerned” about our findings. He said: “We shouldn’t force people into surgery. Saying you can come in now and avoid next month’s price increase is not what we’re advocating, and we’re not complacent. It’s just bad habit. ” Risks to be highlighted include the possibility of embolism, infection, bleeding, scarring, wound healing problems, and hip “asymmetry.”
Professor Raghbir says, “Some steps are easier than others, but there is always a risk even in the simplest operations.” Certainly, there are times when marketers describe an operation and say there is no risk. That’s not really appropriate. We’re very concerned about that.”
Professor Raghbir has great concerns.
Last year, Turkey welcomed 1.2 million British medical tourists and is on track to surpass that number in 2023, reaching 746,290 in the first half of this year. The cost to the NHS to fix failed surgeries was £1.7m in 2022, a 35% increase on 2021. The British government has said it will meet with Turkish authorities to discuss regulations. Since 2019, at least 25 British nationals have died after traveling for medical treatment. Among them is Melissa Kerr, 31, who died in Istanbul in 2019 after a fatal blood clot traveled to her lungs during a butt lift in Brazil.
Senior coroner Jacqueline Lake expressed concern that Melissa was not given enough information before traveling abroad. Professor Raghubir, a plastic surgeon at Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said he was “very concerned” about patient safety following our investigation. He said: “If a patient has a problem, we often cannot contact the surgeon or clinic who performed the surgery. They then turn to us. It takes up a lot of resources and time in the NHS. .”
Up to 240 people are thought to have attended the two-day event in Hull last weekend. Magic Touch, which claims on its website to be “specialist surgeons” and “best prices”, is also said to offer consultations in Southampton, Manchester and Edinburgh. Another is scheduled for Middlesbrough next month. Our reporter was asked to fill out a basic medical history form before the visit. She underwent a brief examination by “patient coordinator” Seville. When asked about her qualifications, Ms. Seville said, “I’m not in the medical field. I feel more like a nurse. I watched surgeries.”
magic touch event flyer
Seville said butt implants are a better option than Brazilian butt lift surgery, which involves removing fat from other areas and injecting it into the buttocks. And she told reporters that once she arrives in Turkey, she will undergo a medical test and meet with a surgeon in person to confirm the size of the implant. She said, “We won’t start the surgery until you’re satisfied.”
She said the surgeon who performs the procedure has 15 years of experience. she said: “You have to be careful now. There are a lot of new clinics, new surgeons, and the prices will only get cheaper as they gain experience with patients.” Seville told reporters that he was discharged from the hospital about three days after the surgery and stayed in a hotel. He said he would take 10 days to recuperate, describing it as a “health leave.”
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When asked if he had ever had a failed surgery, Sebile replied: What about BBL? No, it will never happen. But when asked about the risks, Seville said injecting fat into the buttocks is riskier than implants. she said: She says: “With implants you get really good results and there are no risks. That’s why [there is] No need to worry. ”
Mr Seville quoted £7,000 for the surgery and accommodation and urged investigators to book within the next two months to avoid a rise in prices of up to 10% in 2024. she said: Ask us about January. I don’t know, but I’ll cover the cost of the flight, which is £150. ”
The company’s website also boasts a ‘financing option’ that allows patients to ‘borrow up to £50,000 to spread the cost of Magic Touch treatment over up to seven years’. At the end of her appointment, Seville hugged the reporter and another Magic Touch employee told her: But here’s the real problem. Once you start, you never stop. ”
Melissa Kerr dies after surgery to collect fat and inject it into her butt (Natasha Kerr/Just Giving)
Ms Sebir said the reporter would be able to contact him until he recovered in Antalya and then in the UK. She added: “If you have any problems, please come to Türkiye.” […] we will cover all costs […but] Everything will be fine. That night, Seville sent investigators a series of possible surgery dates, including Dec. 22, and a more detailed medical history.
Professor Raghubir highlighted the General Medical Council’s rules recommending a two-week “cooling-off” period between a patient’s initial consultation and consent for surgery. The GMC’s powers only apply to doctors registered on the UK medical register, so MagicTouch will not be rushing to offer dates in defiance of regulations. Professor Raghbir said: “That’s exactly why we follow these regulations. [the Mirror] I encountered it. We do not intend to pressure others to undergo surgery. If a surgeon in this country fails to comply with the cooling-off period, he or she can definitely be sued. ”
Dawn Knight, from the Joint Council of Cosmetic Practitioners, warned that the use of financial incentives “exploits on the vulnerability of the public in an attempt to take advantage of ‘instantaneous’ decisions”. “The worry is that these roadshow and consultation advertisements are giving the public the impression that they will actually be able to see a surgeon on the same day, when in reality they are often You’re meeting with a sales team that doesn’t have any medical knowledge and doesn’t have any competency.”To assess compliance with procedures. ” At Magic Touch, we offer a wide range of procedures, including breast augmentation, liposuction, and facelifts. They did not respond to the concerns raised in our investigation.
