The deals luring Brits to Istanbul for cosmetic surgery
Deals luring Brits to Turkey for cosmetic surgery EXPOSED: £2,500 ‘all-inclusive’ packages offer holidays at luxury hotels overlooking the sea, VIP airport transfers and free city tours
- Clinics offer all-inclusive surgery deals with hotel, spa, city tours and massages
- UK surgeons say you should not think of surgery as part of a ‘holiday package’
- READ MORE: Inside UK’s deadly, celebrity-inspired craze for Turkish surgery
Basking in the sun by the pool and exploring exotic sites, all while getting the dream body you’ve always wanted?
It almost sounds too good to be true.
But experts have today warned that it often is.
Brits are now being urged to think twice before signing up to ‘all-inclusive’ cosmetic surgery and holiday package deals.
Such deals, offered by clinics or agencies funneling Brits to foreign cosmetic surgery hubs like Turkey, often ‘trivialise’ the life-changing decision to get plastic surgery and often underplay the risks involved, campaigners say.
Dozens of Turkish clinics offer such packages and often include VIP airport transfers in ‘luxury vehicles’ and 5-star hotel stays with breakfast to sweeten the deal for Brits considering going under the knife abroad.
Turkish clinics offer packages including VIP airport transfers in ‘luxury vehicles’ and 5-star hotel stays with breakfast. Some even promise free tours of cities like Istanbul and the choice to take another guest at no additional cost, as well as 24/7 emergency lines, overnight nurse visits and even massages
Some add tours of historic cities like Istanbul and the option to bring a friend for free, as well as 24/7 emergency lines, overnight nurse visits and even massages.
None of the deals uncovered by MailOnline’s probe promise free booze alone, like in typical all-inclusive holidays.
Even without all these extras, and just comparing the cost of operations, it is almost always cheaper for Brits to get boob jobs, bum lifts and liposuction in Turkey than in the UK.
Clinics in Istanbul and other popular Turkish hubs boast they can offer such cheap prices because ‘general wage costs are lower than in Europe’.
MailOnline found some cosmetic surgery packages in Turkey being sold for under £3,000.
Brits can get a Brazilian Butt Lift in Istanbul from Medaway, with the package including a five night hotel stay, VIP airport transfers, free consultations in the UK and aftercare, all for £2,699.
The Medaway website showcase some of its hotels that patients can stay in. The Ramada Golden Horn Hotel & Suites in Istanbul boasts a spa, restaurant and bar. It advertises that some rooms ‘come with a terrace or balcony overlooking the city or the sea’
The Medaway website offers a BBL package that includes a five night sin a hotel, VIP transfers, liposuction, a consultation in the UK and aftercare all for £2699
READ MORE: I went to Turkey for a BBL – I genuinely thought I was going to die and will never forget the horrors I saw
Dani now, 23, and fully recovered, runs an OnlyFans account and has been featured in Playboy
In comparison, a similar procedure in Britain alone can cost £6,000, according to private analysis site, WhatClinic.
Another operator, Medicci Aesthetics, offers a five-day stay in an Istanbul hotel with breakfast included for two people for patients who book a procedure with a Turkish surgeon.
It also boasts of overnight nurse visits, airport transfers, a free beauty therapy, a 24/7 emergency line, and two massages as part of its surgery package.
The company defended the all-inclusive package and said it offers these deals to provide ‘optimal conditions for patient safety’.
But UK surgeons and the NHS advise against buying cosmetic surgery as part of any holiday deal.
Surgeons say treating operations as a holiday sends the wrong message.
Marc Pacifico, president of The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), said all-inclusive holiday packages ‘trivialise’ the decision to get plastic surgery.
‘I would definitely advise anyone considering a plastic surgery procedure not to think of having it as part of a “holiday package”,’ he said.
‘There are so many problems and flaws with that approach — it is surgery and has risks — it is not a holiday.’
Most plastic surgery procedures require patients to rest for a significant period afterward, with no sunbathing, alcohol or swimming allowed, according to BAAPS.
Any lack of rest can be dangerous and not give your body time to properly heal, increasing the risk of complications.
BAAPS also advised people against flying straight after surgery due to the specific risks of developing potentially life-threatening blood clots.
Blood clots are a potential risk after any operation as a result of tissue, fat or collagen entering the circulatory system, or from damage to veins during surgery.
This risk is heightened even further by getting on a plane too quickly after a procedure.
Patients sitting for hours immobile on a plane put their body recovering under immense stress, risking burst stitches and blood clots.
Medics recommend patients wait at least five to seven days before getting on a plane after boob job or liposuction and between seven to 10 days after a face lift of a tummy tuck.
Letsmedi’s Instagram page shows videos of city tours with patients after surgery, in this case after gastric sleeve surgery
Adverts on the Letsmedi Instagram page show 25 per cent off deals for liposuction and 15 per cent off deals for gastric sleeve operations to name a few, with images of smiling slim women to sell the ‘all inclusive’ procedure
READ MORE: More Brits will die unless we crack down on Turkey’s cheap cowboy surgery market now, writes Labour MP and botched op campaigner KEVAN JONES
Dr Pacifico added that clinics offering such packages don’t only trivialize surgery, they can also make it more dangerous for ‘potentially vulnerable’ patients grappling with insecurities in how they look.
‘The majority of people who are going abroad for cosmetic tourism are doing it for financial reasons because they can’t afford it in the UK,’ he said.
‘They are therefore financially vulnerable as well as psychologically vulnerable.
‘The cost for treating or rectifying a complication in the UK is not something that has entered their mind.’
The advertising standards authority (ASA) has also raised alarm over adverts which ‘trivialise’ getting plastic surgery by selling it as part of all-inclusive holiday packages and offering flash sales.
MailOnline’s investigation found Istanbul-based medical travel company Letsmedi offers combined surgery and sightseeing packages.
Adverts on their Instagram page show 25 per cent off deals for liposuction and 15 per cent off deals for gastric sleeve operations, with images of smiling slim women to sell the ‘all inclusive’ procedure.
Although their ‘all-inclusive’ offers only include hotels stays, airport transfers and aftercare, their website also gives you the opportunity to add on sightseeing tours of Istanbul, shopping tours and manicures for about £170.
These activities are showcased on their website and Instagram page in videos showing patients on city tours following their surgery.
Other clinics also offer city tours as part of their ‘all-inclusive’ packages, with Beauty Travels 24, based in Istanbul, offering a ‘free city tour’ in a package with hotel stay, airfare, transfers and follow up examinations.
The letsmedi website gives you the opportunity to buy add on sightseeing tours of Istanbul, shopping tours and manicures for 200 Euros. These activities are showcased on their website and Instagram page in videos showing patients on city tours after their surgery
The Medaway website suggests a week itinerary that includes sight-seeing two days after having a nose job
READ MORE: Istan-bill: Cash-strapped NHS spent record £1.7million on fixing botched cosmetic surgery carried out overseas last year due to post-Covid boom
Another travel website called Turkey Travel Planner also advertises tourist activities for plastic surgery patients and, in one example, suggests those getting a nose job will still have time to see the sights.
‘No matter how long you stay for the surgery and recovery, you’ll get a chance to appreciate the charm and elegance of this remarkable nation,’ the website reads.
‘You get the nose surgery you’ve always dreamed of along with a stellar vacation.’
Similarly on the Medaway website, a suggested week itinerary includes a sight-seeing trip two days after a nose job.
Although it may be possible to have a holiday before having plastic surgery, the NHS says it is ‘unrealistic to have one straight after as this can increase the risk of things going wrong’.
It adds that you need to rest, not lie in the sun, drink alcohol, go swimming or even go sightseeing as some medical travel sites suggest.
The red flags of getting cosmetic surgery abroad
All surgery carries risk, but it is important to do your research before hopping on a plane to get cheap plastic surgery.
Although it can cost less than getting surgery in the UK, you need to bare in mind that the safety standards may not be the same.
Holiday packages
You should be cautious of any website that sell cosmetic surgery as part of a holiday, the NHS warns.
Some websites sell the idea of sightseeing alongside hotels with breakfast included.
NHS advice adds that if you are looking at holiday packages make sure you have a consultation with a surgeon and don’t just meet a sales person.
The health service adds that you should not pay to see a surgeon you have never met.
The Royal College of Surgeons of England also echoes the NHS’s concerns and advises to not agree to cosmetic surgery before meeting the surgeon and visiting the hospital.
UK plastic surgeon Veerle Rotsaert said: ‘Travelling long haul overseas to have surgery done, followed by no proper aftercare, that’s where often things go wrong.
‘Often third party agencies sell surgery without any surgeon ever seeing the patient in person and having a proper consultation until it is actually surgery day.’
Extra costs
Many of the surgeries offered overseas in countries such as Turkey are more affordable than private clinics in the UK.
However, there could be hidden costs.
The Royal College of Surgeons of England urges people to consider the cost for additional flights and hotel stays for future corrective, or touch-up procedures.
It also warns patients to consider what might happen overseas if they pay ahead of time but change their mind before the operation as their right to a refund could vary in different countries.
Choosing the right surgeon
Surgeons and clinics are regulated differently in different countries and standards can vary.
Before traveling abroad for surgery the NHS says you should ask if the surgeon is fully trained in the surgery you want and how long they have been practicing for.
The surgeon should also be fully insured to carry out the surgery you want, says the Royal College of Surgeons of England. It suggests asking to see details of the surgeons insurance.
It is also vital you have a proper consultation with your surgeon before you consent to having the surgery, experts warn.
Risks of flying
Flying and having major surgery increases your risk of getting a blood clot, which can be life threatening.
As a result, the NHS warns people should wait five to seven days to fly after procedures such as breast surgery and liposuction and wait seven to 10 days to fly after facial cosmetic procedures or tummy tucks.
However, some surgeons suggest waiting between two to six weeks before flying depending on the procedure.
Dr Rotsaert explained: ‘This is because first of all, you want patients to stay relatively close to their surgeon in case of any immediate post-op issues.’
He added: Secondly because of the deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism risk associated with the act of surgery, it’s aftermath, as well as prolonged immobilisation.’
Drinking plenty of water, avoiding alcohol and walking about during your flight can help circulation, but this doesn’t completely remove the risk of a blood clot especially having major surgery, the British Association of Plastic Reconstruction and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS).
Aftercare
Follow up care after your surgery is an important part of your treatment. But traveling abroad can make it more complicated.
Before getting surgery outside of the UK consider how long it would take you to travel back to your surgeon if there is a complication, says the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Make sure you have a contact for a named doctor that can deal with any complications, rather than a helpline, experts warn.
You need to also make sure the clinic will deal with any problems and that they will help if you are not happy with your outcome.
In many cases the NHS will not help you unless you have a serious complication which requires emergency or life-saving support.
Source: NHS, BAPRAS and Royal College of Surgeons England.
All the known Brit fatalities in Turkey from surgery
At least 24 Brits have died as a result of medical tourism trips to Turkey since January 2019, according to the Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Here, MailOnline highlights some of the victims.
Leah Cambridge
Leah Cambridge, 29, suffered a blood clot during a £6,500 Brazilian butt lift surgery in Turkey.
Leah Cambridge, 29, died after having the ‘Brazilian butt lift’ procedure in Turkey
The mother-of-three, from Leeds, died just one day after travelling to an Elite Aftercare clinic in Turkey in August 2018.
The trainee beautician, described as being ‘paranoid about her body’, paid in cash for the procedure after being inspired by pictures on Instagram.
The procedure involved having fat extracted from the waist and injected into the buttocks.
But she suffered a fatal complication when fat was accidentally injected into a vein causing her to have three heart attacks on the operating table.
Ms Cambridge’s partner Scott Franks told Wakefield Coroner’s Court that the surgeon who carried out the procedure told him he had ‘injected the fat too far into the muscle and it entered her veins’.
Mr Franks said when he flew out to Turkey after his partner died, Dr Ali Uckan, the surgeon who treated Leah, had told him: ‘It’s a guessing game, you can’t see where you are going into.’
Ms Cambridge father, Craig, took his own life in 2021 with an inquest held in July last year hearing how he was never able to get past the loss of his daughter.
Diarra Akua Eunice Brown
Diarra Brown, 28, died after having liposuction in Turkey
Diarra Akua Eunice Brown, died aged 28, two days after getting liposuction at a clinic in the suburb of Bahcelievler in Istanbul, in October 2021.
She reportedly underwent the operation to have fat removed from her hips.
While the procedure initially appeared to be a success, Ms Brown ‘suddenly’ fell ill while having her dressings changed.
She died just hours later.
Social media posts from family and friends described her as a ‘beautiful soul’ and a ‘close friend’.
‘This must be a dream,’ one post said. ‘Still can’t come to terms with this yet.’
‘I miss you angel. I’m devastated you were taken away way before your time,’ said another.
Shannon Bowe
Shannon Bowe, 28 died after undergoing gastric band surgery in Turkey
Shannon Bowe, from Denny, near Falkirk, died while undergoing gastric band surgery in Turkey in April 2023.
The 28-year-old passed away during the procedure which involves placing a band around the stomach.
Where exactly Ms Bowe had the procedure in Turkey and the complication that led to her death have not been revealed.
In the aftermath of her death, Ms Bowe’s boyfriend Ross Stirling wrote on social media: ‘Sleep tight my angel, love you forever and always.’
Gastric band surgery involves a doctor placing a gastric band around the top of the stomach, creating a small pouch.
When the patient eats, this small pouch fills up more quickly than their stomach normally would, making them feel fuller with less food.
By encouraging them to eat less, the procedure can help patients lose weight.
Melissa Kerr
Melissa Kerr, 31, of Gorleston, Norfolk, died after having a BBL in Turkey
Melissa Kerr, 31, died while undergoing a Brazilian butt lift in Turkey in 2019, just before her wedding.
Ms Kerr traveled to Istanbul’s Medicana Haznedar Hospital in November that year for gluteal augmentation, which can cost up to £3,150.
The psychological wellbeing practitioner, from Gorleston, Norfolk, died from a blocked artery in her lung as a result of undergoing the surgery.
Her twin sister Natasha who set up a justgiving.com page after her death described her a ‘a pure and beautiful soul inside and out’.
She said: ‘Words cannot describe the pain and heartbreak we are going through, life without her will never be the same again.
‘We miss her deeply and nothing will fill the emptiness we are left with.’
Melissa’s partner Skye Birch said: ‘I will continue to love you with all my heart until my last breath.’
Ms Kerr also worked as a volunteer helping domestic violence victims and supporting people through bereavement.
Abimbola Ajoke Bamgbose
Abimbola Ajoke Bamgbose, 38, died after liposuction in Turkey
Abimbola Ajoke Bamgbose, a 38-year-old social worker, from Dartford, Kent, died in August 2020 after undergoing liposuction surgery in Turkey.
The mother-of-three bought an overseas package deal with Mono Cosmetic Surgery after becoming fed-up with people asking her if she was pregnant, according to her husband.
A post-mortem examination found that Mrs Bamgbose suffered perforations to her bowel during the surgery, with the cause of death given as peritonitis with multiple organ failure.
Peritonitis is an infection of the peritoneum, the inner lining of the tummy which covers vital internal organs like the kidneys, liver and bowel.
Her husband Moyosore Olowo told an inquest he was unaware his wife had traveled abroad for cosmetic surgery, instead believing she had simply gone on a holiday with her friends.
It was not until Mrs Bamgbose called her husband to say she was suffering from stomach pains following the procedure that he found out what had happened.
Mr Olowo said his wife had visited a private medical practice in the UK for surgery but added that the cost had been too high for her to have the treatment in Britain.
Carol Keenan
Carol Keenan, 54, died after having a BBL and tummy tuck in Turkey
Carol Keenan, 54, died six days after undergoing a combined Brazilian butt lift and tummy tuck in Turkey.
The grandmother, of Glenrothes, Fife, paid £7,000 for the procedures at a private hospital in Istanbul in 2022 after becoming anxious about the way her body looked.
Ms Keenan also accepted the offer of free abdominal muscle repair surgery shortly before she was taken into the operating theatre.
But she died before she was due to have a final check up and fly home.
Speaking to MailOnline in April, her family said they are still waiting for the results of her autopsy 11 months on from her death.
Her daughter Leonie Keenan, 32, said: ‘My mother was a fit and healthy individual. She was a very petite size 10 and she kept in shape by walking everywhere and going swimming.
‘She was a very active grandmother who loved bouncing on the trampoline with the kids-but she was not happy with her body even though everyone told her she looked great.
‘She set her heart on having surgery after seeing stories about other people and celebrities having procedures. I don’t know if it was like a mid-life crisis.’
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