A stark warning has been issued to Brits who are considering getting low-cost cosmetic surgeries abroad.
This comes after a troubling rise in deaths linked to procedures in Turkey.
At least six Britons have died in Turkey this year during medical treatments, sparking urgent calls for heightened safety measures and awareness campaigns.
Speaking on the issue, Health Secretary Wes Streeting advised potential patients to be cautious of enticing offers.
“Think very carefully before flying overseas, paying what looks like a kind of rock bottom attractive price,” he said.
The Health Secretary also pledged to collaborate with international partners to enhance safety for those seeking medical procedures abroad.
Among the most recent fatalities is Kaydell Brown, 38, from Sheffield, who tragically passed away after undergoing surgery in Turkey on March 26.
Another British national, 38-year-old Hayley Dowell, died following complications from a Brazilian butt lift, a procedure known for its exceptionally high risk.
Isabella Crawford, 20, recounted her harrowing experience of nearly dying after returning home from Turkey with blood pouring from open wounds caused by multiple surgeries.
Janet Lynne Savage, 54, from Bangor, lost her life during a gastric sleeve procedure. Since 2019, Foreign Office records reveal that 28 British nationals have died following planned medical procedures in Turkey.
The UK Government has intensified efforts to warn the public about the risks. Official travel advice and NHS guidelines stress the variability in medical standards worldwide and urge travellers to conduct thorough research before committing to surgeries abroad.
Professor Vivien Lees of the Royal College of Surgeons expressed alarm over the rising fatalities, announcing an urgent meeting in December to address the crisis.
“It is incredibly sad that lives are being lost to cut-price surgery abroad. Patients deserve better protection through tighter regulation and education,” Lees said.
The issue has also placed additional strain on the NHS.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, highlighted the growing burden of addressing complications from failed surgeries abroad, particularly Brazilian butt lifts (BBLs), which he described as having the highest death rate among cosmetic procedures.
“Dodgy tweakments are leaving the NHS to pick up the pieces at taxpayers’ expense,” Powis stated, urging potential patients to reconsider offers that seem too good to be true.
