Cut-price cosmetic surgery in Turkey has prompted the government to issue a warning after shocking new figures revealed six Britons died last year.
The Foreign Office alert comes amid renewed calls advising people against seeking budget operations in the country. At least 29 Britons have now died from bungled surgery in Turkey since 2019 – with many more suffering devastating complications or bodged jobs.
The warning on the gov.uk website states: “The standard of medical facilities and available treatments can vary widely globally and also within countries. We are aware of six British nationals having died in Turkey in 2023 following medical procedures. Some British nationals have also experienced complications and needed further treatment or surgery following their procedure.”
Medical tourism to Turkey has boomed following the pandemic with numbers surging year-on-year.
A record 1.4 million health tourists visited Turkey in 2023 – generating £2billion for the economy. Those seeking weight loss surgery face years-long NHS waiting lists for gastric surgeries or £12,000 bills for going private.
Yet in Turkey, the private surgery can cost just £3,000.
Hairdresser Kaydell Brown, 38, died in March after travelling to Istanbul for a £4k ‘mummy MOT’.
The mother-of-two, from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, paid £5,400 for a Brazilian butt lift, a tummy tuck and breast surgery. Tragically, she never came out of surgery after suffering a suspected blood clot.
Heartbroken sister Leanne, 40, later slammed the clinic, calling it a “pop-up butcher shop”.
Emma Morrissey, 44, from Warrington, Cheshire. died from a bungled gastric sleeve operation that was supposed to give her a new chance of life.
She chose the Private Termessos Hastanesi hospital in Antalya, whose website boasts: “We have the best doctors in Turkey.”
The hospital was later blasted by a coroner in the UK over preventable failings which led to Emma bleeding to death in July 2022.
Last night, former Tory MP Sir Robert Buckland urged those thinking of travelling to Turkey for surgery to think twice.
He said: “People must take great care before opting for cut price cosmetic surgery abroad that, as we have seen all too often, can end in tragedy. Cheaper surgery in Turkey comes at a price, which is lower safety and clinical standards.
“The message has to be: Please don’t put yourself at risk and cause misery to you and your loved ones.”
The ASA advertising watchdog this year launched a major crackdown on cosmetic tourism firms on social media. They accused firms based in Turkey of putting pressure on potential customers, trivialising serious surgical procedures and exploiting insecurities around body image.
A government spokesperson said: “We urge anyone considering a cosmetic procedure abroad to research the treatment in question, the qualifications of their clinician and the regulations that apply in the country they are travelling to, regardless of where any consultation takes place.
“The UK government has been actively engaging with the Turkish government on how to support the safety of patients who decide they wish to travel to Turkey for medical treatment.”