A MUM was left with “messy scars, wonky nipples, and uneven breasts” after a budget boob job in Turkey went disastrously wrong.
Stacey Bates, 29, claims she “knew something wasn’t right” as soon as she woke from the surgery, which was carried out after minimal consultation.
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“I was seduced by the price,” Stacey said.
“The surgeon chose the implant size without a detailed discussion, it felt like they just grabbed one off the shelf.”
Stacey, from Bedale, North Yorkshire, had been dreaming of breast augmentation and uplift for years.
When she spotted a social media ad earlier this year for a clinic in Turkey offering the procedure for just £3,500 – including flights – she decided to go for it.
But her expectations quickly began to unravel.
From sharing a “private” transfer with other patients to a rushed pre-surgery process, she felt uneasy from the start.
After arriving, she was taken to the hospital for pre-surgery checks, including blood tests and a “brief” meeting with the surgeon to mark areas for surgery.
“Payment was also collected from the bed on the day of surgery, but I did not see the surgeon on the day,” she explained.
“When I was laid on the operating table, the surgeon said, ‘time for sleepy bye-bye,’ and that really freaked me out,” the mum-of-two recalled.
Post-surgery, Stacey was left in a bit of a mess.
“As soon as I woke up from the general anaesthetic, I knew something wasn’t right,” she recalled.
Stacey was instructed to walk around with drains dangling, which she had to empty herself.
She said: “I had to leave my children for so many days, and then I was worried that when I got home, I wouldn’t be able to pick them up.”
On top of this, Stacey was devastated by how her breasts were left looking.
“I’m really unhappy with the results of my surgery, the scars are messy, my nipples are wonky, and the overall results are so uneven,” she said.
Once back in the UK, Stacey’s stitches became infected, forcing her to seek treatment at A&E.
She was prescribed antibiotics but could only communicate with the clinic through a provider, not the surgeon directly.
When she raised concerns, she was advised to return in January 2025 for revision surgery – which would require further payment.
“I wish I’d stayed in the UK to get it done,” Stacey said.
“Here, you have that reassurance that if something goes wrong, you can contact your surgeon.
“I went for the price, and now I’m having to pay again, so it’s cost me more in the long run.”
Stacey is now working with Pall Mall Medical, a leading cosmetic surgery provider, to correct the scarring and reposition her nipples.
Botched surgery crisis
By Ryan Merrifield, News Reporter
BRITAIN is facing a botched surgery crisis, The Sun can reveal.
In the past few years, at least 28 Brits have died abroad after complications from Brazilian butt lifts (BBLs) alone.
But there are plenty more who have undergone the procedure in Britain with disastrous consequences.
Plastic surgery campaign group Save Face said in a report that 479 patients have complained to them about botched BBLs and hip dips – all undertaken by non-healthcare cowboy practitioners – since 2022.
Reported complications included infection, sepsis, abscesses, necrosis, cellulitis, migration and nodules.
A total of 98 per cent of complainants were then treated by NHS services.
Mum-of-five Alice Webb, 33, was having a BBL at a studio in Gloucester earlier this month when it is said to have “gone wrong”.
Two people have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.
Save Face director Ashton Collins said: “
Ashton Collins told The Sun: “We launched a campaign in December 2023 calling upon the government to take urgent action to ban these procedures.
“We made it absolutely clear that without urgent intervention someone would die.
“It makes me incredibly sad and angry that our fear has been confirmed and a family has been shattered.
“Liquid BBL procedures are a crisis waiting to happen. They are advertised on social media as ‘risk-free’, ‘cheaper’ alternatives to the surgical counterpart and that could not be further from the truth.”
She plans to have an uplift and implant revision in January 2025.
Dr Simon Theobalds, a Pall Mall GP and A&E doctor warns that Stacey’s story is far from unique.
“We see patients drawn in by half-price deals, but these clinics often don’t match the safety standards required in the UK,” he said.
“Language barriers and hygiene issues are common, and sadly, some pay the ultimate price—their life.”
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Figures show 28 Britons have died from complications related to overseas surgeries since 2019, including seven deaths this year alone.
Stacey is now urging others to research thoroughly and avoid being lured by low prices.
“Don’t go by cost. Look into the company, the surgeon, and the process,” she said.
“I’m really unhappy with my results, but I’m so thankful Pall Mall has been amazing in helping me fix it.”
What are the risks of getting surgery abroad?
IT’S important to do your research if you’re thinking about having cosmetic surgery abroad.
It can cost less than in the UK, but you need to weigh up potential savings against the potential risks.
Safety standards in different countries may not be as high.
No surgery is risk-free. Complications can happen after surgery in the UK or abroad.
If you have complications after an operation in the UK, the surgeon is responsible for providing follow-up treatment.
Overseas clinics may not provide follow-up treatment, or they may not provide it to the same standard as in the UK.
Also, they may not have a healthcare professional in the UK you can visit if you have any problems.
Source: NHS
