Has anyone gone to Turkey for plastic surgery?

I’ve known a few. No problems bar one, and unfortunately the ‘one’ was a woman who died in Istanbul whilst having liposuction and a Brazilian butt lift.

I’m not anti plastic surgery at all, I’ve had some myself and I’m not at all anti having more if I ever think I would benefit from it. I wouldn’t touch a BBL though.

Gosh, I don’t think people realise how xenophobic they sound. The UK do not have the monopoly on decent surgeons or hospitals! In fact, our hospitals wouldn’t run without foreign doctors. It’s so daft to suggest that all other hospitals are rubbish. Of course the many stories of botched surgeries that happened in the uk don’t get such media coverage.
I know of one very esteemed surgeon, you can get an op done with her in London, day surgery, sent packing the same day, or fly to turkey, same surgeon, a very swanky private hospital, 5 days all inc - 1/4 of the price!

Hi , did you have the tummy tuck at MadAway in the end as I’m just about to go ahead with it ?

"Mummy makeover". :vomit:

Turkish hospitals tend to be very well-run and safe, but is this an actual hospital or just a "clinic"? These don't always have to conform to the highest standards.

It's also worth considering that the quality of tap water in Turkey is often questionable. Even the locals admit this and the variety of medicines for stomach problems you can buy in any Turkish pharmacy confirms it. Recovering from major surgery in a place where digestive problems are rife and a large % of the local adult population is infected with hepatitis is a risk. Children are now routinely vaccinated for it as it is such a problem.

I think it’s pretty embarrassing for the human race that is this where society is now. Are people really so utterly obsessed with looking a certain way ??

Hi I'm after peoples experiences of cosmetic surgery abroad.
I'm looking at getting a mummy makeover.
(boob lift tummy tuck and lipo)
Thanks

There are risks everywhere that's true but I suppose you have to weigh the risks/benefits against eachother. That said I'm a huge fan of cosmetic surgery / intervention.

Hi, can I just ask you how your experience was with Medaway? I’ve book to go in March and I’m kinda nervous about it all.

I'm planning to go next year for dental treatment and liposuction. A few of my friends went for dental treatment, hair transplant, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, breast enlargement and liposuction in Turkey and couldn't recommend it enough. They use latest technology and their hospitals are literally like a 5* hotel and very clean. The minute you step foot off the plane, you're picked up like a VIP guest, taken to a lavish hotel, have your treatment and the after care is amazing at 1/3 of a price you would get in this country let alone at Harley St. Go for it. Also, every surgery whether it's c section and kidney transplant or a nose job, there is always a risk and out of 1000's of patients that have these treatment, 1-2 may have an effect just like any other surgery that happens anywhere around the world.

Also covi is an issue at the moment. Not only because there is a risk of getting Covid itself, but also because we don't know what the rate of infections will be by, for example, early spring next year. It might well be that hospitals are prioritsing cases or that it is hard to get GP appointments. Or the UK could well have a 14 day quarantine in place for people arriving from overseas - what do you do if your stitches look worrying 5 days after arriving home? At best that would add unnecessary stress. At worst it could cause serious problems. So I would definately wait until the situation is a little clearer.

@Doingtheboxerbeat

Why do people think that the whole country is a dodgy backwater because a procedure went wrong ,as if nothing terrible would ever happen here ? Medical negligence happens everywhere .

1. If you need aftercare/dealing with complications that can arise after surgery when back home. The doctors you go to wont be familiar with the case, might not have your medical records etc
2. language barriers - I gave birth in a country where everyone speaks English until... anything goes wrong and they all switch to their own language. It might not even be the case that all the medical staff speak English. Even if they do there may be nuances that get lost in translation
3. In a completely unfamiliar country it is much harder to read subtle signals on what is dodgy and what isnt - both medically and generally. So even if you do a lot of "research" you are ultimately relying on the company providing the package to properly vet the doctors etc
4. If something goes wrong here you (at least in theory) have a proper route for redress or at least fixing the problem. Out of country procedures always involve a complex web of cosmetic company (medicare), the hospital as a bussiness, the individual surgeons who are probably self employed. If anything goes wrong expect to be passed from pilar to post.
5. you have to fly back - if anything goes wrong it could ge very difficult/expensive to do so

my issue with going so far would be the aftercare and what you would do if you had any issues or complications. Even with the best doctor sometimes you need some revision surgery, and you need to be sure that you have some sort of guarantee that you would still be able to get that, otherwise it could be a false economy and you get shafted double. Of course there will be plenty of stories of things going well, but its not enough to cross fingers and hope. Revision surgery is not uncommon either. I had to have a revision when I had surgery and I was very glad that id carefully chosen a surgeon somewhere I could get to easily and that had a guarantee and aftercare package. Please think about it carefully. On the forums I was on at the time I read many stories of people not getting the aftercare they needed and it was a long difficult process for them. This isnt just about the country though, as there were cases with large cosmetic surgery companies in the UK that were cheaper and with rubbish aftercare, so I dread to think how easy it would be to be fobbed off if your surgeon was in Turkey.
A tummy tuck is a significant surgery and I think this is not something you should be thinking of cutting costs on

especially if you stay a bit longer for safety as people are suggesting?

I think "suggesting" is being a bit gentle or polite TBH..There are very good reasons for the NHS/CAA/individual airline rules or guidelines, based on clinical or actual experience..

FWIW I've heard of at least one medical incident in flight caused by an individual travelling very soon after cosmetic surgery.

Is there even that much of a price difference, once you’ve factored in flights and hotel costs, especially if you stay a bit longer for safety as people are suggesting?

Absolutely. You will never know. Do you want to find out? Especially at the minute?

I’m just saying I see it fairly regularly. Enough to put me off and advise against it. I see plenty of post op infections. Some surgeries are prone to them no matter what you do. Some people have underlying health conditions that make them more susceptible to them. However I see this kind of surgery with post op infections enough to make me say it’s something I wouldn’t do. I’m not sure if there had been any research into it. I’d be tempted to ask the provider if they keep that data. Might be worth adding on the list of questions that you are planning to ask your surgeon?

I wouldn't risk it I don't think. I accept some of the care may be really great but it just doesn't seem worth the risk.

Also, why can't you postpone it until late spring? Covid is another risk factor.

I've heard many horror stories, many within the uk as well as places like Turkey etc.

RoxyTheRexy and how many people do you see seriously ill following surgery in thus country? Or alternatively, out of those 2 seriously ill people, did they have factors that would have rendered them seriously ill if they had the same surgery in the UK?

It's a bit like a medical negligence solicitor saying they have seen 10 cases of medical negligence in the NHS thus month. I know someone who had to have their leg amputated months after breaking it, because the nhs failed to admit him for intravenous antibiotics following a surgically acquired infection - because the main consultant was on holiday!

I work in A&E in a large city and we see about 2 people a month seriously I’ll after surgery abroad.

I would never do it and would be completely against anyone I loved doing it. Yummy tucks seem to be pretty hard to recover from. From my limited experience wound infections that take a long time to heal seem pretty common

I believe the department of health do not recommend a long haul flight until 6 weeks after major surgery.

It's not usually that long, ultimately it depends on the airline..I posted the NHS link up thread, FWIW the UK Civil Aviation Authority guidance is that "Major chest or abdominal surgery requires a period of approximately ten days." - I've certainly been aware of people travelling Long Haul a month or so after major abdominal surgery.
www.caa.co.uk/Passengers/Before-you-fly/Am-I-fit-to-fly/Health-information-for-passengers/Passenger-health-FAQs--Am-I-fit-to-fly-/

BTW I a comment about the supposed risk of flying and recycled air have been casually thrown into the conversation...without reopening that whole debate/going off at a tangent I'll point out that on airliners it's HEPA filtered recycled air.

Firstly - plastic surgeons in the UK are NOT more highly trainer or qualified than Drs overseas. In fact the UK has one of the lowest standard training rates for cosmetic surgeons.

Most Drs who are members of ISAAPS are good because they’ve taken additional training to be part of the ISAAPS.

I would strongly recommend taking out specialist travel insurance as your usual one will be void. I have used this one and recommended it to other people: www.medicaltravelshield.com/

As others have said, do allow adequate healing time before your return flight, think about luggage, how will you lift the suits case off the conveyor belt when you land? That sort of thing. If you can get a companion to go with you ever better.

Oh another good website: www.treatmentabroad.net

Best of luck 👍🏼

General advice from two UK bodies. Both confirming that if you get something like an infection or sepsis that needs life-saving treatment then yes the NHS will step in. But if private cosmetic surgery leaves you in severe pain that's not life-threatening? Causes a disability that prevents you returning to work? Or is just an aesthetically botched job? No NHS funded treatment to fix that.

www.rcseng.ac.uk/patient-care/cosmetic-surgery/having-surgery-abroad/

www.bapras.org.uk/public/patient-information/cosmetic-surgery/cosmetic-surgery-abroad#The%20NHS

So you need to make sure that suitable provision and insurance is made for that, or risk having to pay out of your own pocket. Reputable UK cosmetic surgeons will have that provision. Will a company in Turkey doing things on the cheap have the same?

The aftercare appointments following a tummy tuck include a nurse appointment at 1, 2 and 3 weeks. A surgeons review at 6-8 weeks then 3 months. And this is standard aftercare if there are no complications. More appointments are needed if there are. A surgeon / clinic in Turkey cannot provide any of that.
A tummy tuck is a major surgery.
I believe the department of health do not recommend a long haul flight until 6 weeks after major surgery.

Just Google 'Woman died in Turkey after tummy tuck/bum lift'. It tells you all you need to know really.

There was a newspaper article the other day where a UK woman died after a tummy tuck in Turkey.

I know someone that lost both her nipples when she got back from turkey but to be fair she just went with the cheapest one.

I'm desperate for a tummy tuck though and if I found a reputable surgeon I'd book it in a heartbeat as I hate my mum tum.