Bodybuilder Michelle Heath, 40, from Dundonald, travelled to Istanbul for surgery to remove excess skin after losing an incredible 10 stone through diet and fitness.
Surgery in Turkey is often much cheaper than in the UK, and hundreds of people now choose to travel for hair transplants, dental veneers and other cosmetic procedures.
Michelle’s treatment included leg and back lifts and cost £4,625, including flights, transfers and a five-night hotel stay.
Michelle told Sky News: “When I was bodybuilding, I noticed that her back was sagging. Her inner legs were hanging down to her knees. And not only was it ugly, it was painful.”
Michelle Heath after leg surgery
She added: “All the surgeries that have been done on me have been ineffective.”
In addition to removing loose skin, the surgeon also performed liposuction and fat injections on her, procedures that had not been discussed during previous consultations.
Looks like Michelle got a Brazilian bum lift. This is a popular procedure that removes fat from the abdomen, flanks, and thighs and adds volume to the buttocks.
Complications can include infections, blood clots, and even potentially fatal heart problems.
Following her surgery, Michelle was not satisfied with the aftercare she received.
Despite being scheduled to stay in the hospital for two nights, doctors discharged Michelle immediately after the surgery.
The pain was so severe that she could not sit on the toilet, urinated on herself, and passed out in front of the doctor.
Unable to be transported to a hospital, she returned to the hotel on her own, only to find that there was no room for her. After an argument with hotel staff, Michelle realized she had to go home.
On arriving in Northern Ireland, the surgical nurse advised her to go straight to the emergency department.
A long stay at Ulster Hospital followed, during which surgeons worked hard to save Michelle’s leg.
“My leg was necrotic. They needed a debridement. And then a week later my back was open and I needed a major skin graft,” Heath said. Told.
Debridement is a medical procedure that removes all infected and dead tissue. It is an essential step for wounds that are trapped during the first stages of healing.
A total of 324 people have needed further treatment after returning to the UK over the past four years, according to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.
The figures also suggest that 44% more people required corrective treatment on the NHS after traveling abroad for surgery compared to the previous year. This is despite travel warnings in place due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
“I’m not proud of the stress I’m causing the NHS… but I believe they should have resolved this issue for me,” she added.
