Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

If you were me, would you go to Turkey for weight loss surgery?

179 replies

Lordofthebutterfloofs · 04/02/2023 18:35

I know two people who have done this very recently and they are so happy with their outcome.

21 stone
36years old

Never had an op of any kind.

Sick of trying to diet

Very very tempted but rather terrified of the whole thing

OP posts:
cadink · 04/02/2023 18:36

No google the outcome of many surgeries in turkey.

Worriere · 04/02/2023 18:36

Nope. Nothing would persuade me to have it done in Turkey after the horror stories I've seen.

DRS1970 · 04/02/2023 18:36

Don't do it.

Lordofthebutterfloofs · 04/02/2023 18:37

Oh jesus what horror stories?!?!?!

My two colleagues are really happy

OP posts:
Magenta65 · 04/02/2023 18:37

What’s the price difference? Can be done for working £6k here. I would avoid Turkey. Lack of aftercare and follow up nutrition help etc. heard nothing but horror stories

Lordofthebutterfloofs · 04/02/2023 18:38

Magenta65 · 04/02/2023 18:37

What’s the price difference? Can be done for working £6k here. I would avoid Turkey. Lack of aftercare and follow up nutrition help etc. heard nothing but horror stories

£3099 flights and accommodation included.

OP posts:
Magenta65 · 04/02/2023 18:38

People have died, surgery gone wrong and living on liquid diet, knocked bowels etc. just google jt

Luredbyapomegranate · 04/02/2023 18:39

No, I had to do some research on this for work. It’s very poorly regulated. 100 % of the foreign surgery fixes the members of the British association of plastic surgeons had to do in 2021 were from Turkey.

TokyoSushi · 04/02/2023 18:39

I think that weight loss surgery sounds like a good idea for you, but I'd be get nervous of having the procedure in Turkey.

TokyoSushi · 04/02/2023 18:39

*be very

QueenOfHiraeth · 04/02/2023 18:40

I think there is a lot more to weight loss surgery than just having the op. It's not a miracle cure and you have to learn how to eat and how to live with it for the rest of your life.
You also have to be aware that the NHS may not accept responsibility for blood tests and supplements needed after it. Our area has recently brought out guidance saying that NHS clinics will deal with their own monitoring and surgeries should direct anyone who has had private surgery to find private providers for their ongoing care so you may need to have funds put aside for that

Midgeymoo12 · 04/02/2023 18:40

No - I strongly recommend you do not. You don’t know the quality of the care you will receive. If there is a complication there is no aftercare and you will be a drain on the NHS. You increase your risk if thrombosis by flying. Please seek this surgery on the NHS or here privately.

Luredbyapomegranate · 04/02/2023 18:40

Lordofthebutterfloofs · 04/02/2023 18:37

Oh jesus what horror stories?!?!?!

My two colleagues are really happy

Seriously Op this is a huge decision to make. In the nicest way possible - do your bloody research. You aren’t booking a discount spray tan, this could ruin your health for life.

U1sce · 04/02/2023 18:40

Nope. Not even in the UK. The outcomes are not what they portray them as

Athena51 · 04/02/2023 18:42

On the Weight Loss Chat board there's a long running thread about bariatric surgery (several threads I think) and many people on it have had surgery here and abroad. I suspect it will be more useful to you as it's probably more informed.

LynetteScavo · 04/02/2023 18:45

Do you have children? If so, absolutely fucking not, I wouldn't risk it.

No children and a tight budget, I might.

Would you. R Udo g the same surgeon as your colleagues?

Newusernameaug · 04/02/2023 18:47

Yes, I’ve had 2 cosmetic surgeries abroad and 2 teeth stuff.
I went to Thailand and Czech.

Turkey has a really high number of superb world leading JCI accredited hospitals (far superior to any in the UK!)

Firstly - you want testimonials from past patients and to see the Drs work, is this the same Dr and hospital as your friends visited? If so that’s great.
Also do some online research into the Dr.
Check out treatment abroad .net (I think) for reviews and comparisons.

Check if they offer any package for a consultation here before and after.

Definitely take out medical travel specific travel insurance (medical travel shield I recommend) because standard travel insurance is void, and with this policy you can extend your stay, return for further treatment etc.

Ignore the horror stories, yes there are some horror stories from abroad and here in the UK.
My background is in the instance aspect of surgeries (malpractice / medical complications etc) and we’ve dealt with UK and all over the world.
I can categorically state that British plastic surgeons and hospitals are no more superior than many countries and we are actually known to have some of the lowest standards!

Lordofthebutterfloofs · 04/02/2023 18:49

Luredbyapomegranate · 04/02/2023 18:40

Seriously Op this is a huge decision to make. In the nicest way possible - do your bloody research. You aren’t booking a discount spray tan, this could ruin your health for life.

I would never actually book without research, I just wanted to chat about it

OP posts:
Throwncrumbs · 04/02/2023 18:50

No, I’ve worked on a bariatric ward and have seen how things can go seriously wrong, never have this type of surgery in a clinic always a hospital, and never anywhere that doesn’t do aftercare that you can access (not via a email or phone) personally. Many private hospitals include aftercare, if something goes wrong for whatever reason, that they dont charge extra for.

BeautifulWar · 04/02/2023 18:51

Sorry if this sounds patronising, but have you ever had counselling to discuss the reasons behind your eating habits?

Surgery is risky and it doesn't eliminate what goes on emotionally or in your head when you over eat or eat certain things.

quirkyquagmire · 04/02/2023 18:53

If I googled 'botched surgery abroad' I would get loads of results ... same if I googled 'botched surgery Uk'

Research, research, research!

Sleepyquest · 04/02/2023 18:53

Forget the Turkey vs U.K. argument - I have seen so many horror stories relating to this surgery. It sounds hideous. Hair falling out for starters. Please research it thoroughly. I know what it's like to be sick of dieting but honestly, eating in a calorie deficit works and is better for you in the long run

AdventFridgeOfShame · 04/02/2023 18:54

Have you ever tried not dieting but just eating healthy food?
A sensible amount of protein and loads of vegetables. No calorie counting involved, just real food.

Throwncrumbs · 04/02/2023 18:55

Newusernameaug · 04/02/2023 18:47

Yes, I’ve had 2 cosmetic surgeries abroad and 2 teeth stuff.
I went to Thailand and Czech.

Turkey has a really high number of superb world leading JCI accredited hospitals (far superior to any in the UK!)

Firstly - you want testimonials from past patients and to see the Drs work, is this the same Dr and hospital as your friends visited? If so that’s great.
Also do some online research into the Dr.
Check out treatment abroad .net (I think) for reviews and comparisons.

Check if they offer any package for a consultation here before and after.

Definitely take out medical travel specific travel insurance (medical travel shield I recommend) because standard travel insurance is void, and with this policy you can extend your stay, return for further treatment etc.

Ignore the horror stories, yes there are some horror stories from abroad and here in the UK.
My background is in the instance aspect of surgeries (malpractice / medical complications etc) and we’ve dealt with UK and all over the world.
I can categorically state that British plastic surgeons and hospitals are no more superior than many countries and we are actually known to have some of the lowest standards!

Bariatric surgery is not plastic surgery, and is done by bariatric specialist surgeons or general surgeons who have experience in intestinal/gastric surgery