Help me Turkish Surgeons!

[Former]

I have been researching Turkish surgeons and looking at their patients blogs.

How do I properly research the hospital and surgeon I am contemplating?

The reviews on various platforms are 5 stars for the hospital but I am aware this can be manipulated. It's hard to find reviews for the actual surgeons unless a vlogger shows their results.

Anyone who has been and knows how to thoroughly research?

I am not a doctor, so start with googling 'insulin resistance' and 'Ozempic/Wegovy' and then I'd get some questions to ask your doctor. I think the evidence is that it would help with these conditions, but I'm not able to review that evidence (beyond my biological knowledge!) Ozempic is precisely for diabetics, Wegovy is the brand name for the one for obesity, and the drug is semaglutide.

Just to clarify this a bit, Ozempic was initially developed to treat diabetes. When the weight loss effects were observed, Novo Nordisk got authorization to market exactly the same drug molecule for weight loss under the brand name Wegovy with a slightly different dosing schedule.

There were earlier GLP-1 medications that mimicked the same hormone like Saxenda, but those had to be injected daily. The breakthrough was modifying the drug molecule to last longer in the body and be injected weekly. The natural version of the hormone breaks down in a few hours.

I do know someone personally who had a kidney stolen whilst undergoing a cosmetic procedure in Turkey. I know of significantly more people who have NOT had their organs stolen whilst having procedures there, but it's still enough to put me off!

Thank you two for helping. I hope that the medication works.
Thank you for the links too!

I have been watching Saragetssleeved21 and I would never go abroad now. Horrific.

Im so glad I came on here and asked now! My gut was telling me not to.

Pardon the pun

Surgery abroad is cheaper not only because of lower wages and materials, but also because these companies won't be providing:

• post operative care
• follow up and reviews
• insurance for the surgeons against getting sued if negligence does occur (i.e you won't be able to take any action against them if they are negligent).
• a surgeon who is registered with the General Medical Council and paying the required fees/ to attend the required courses.

Not having to deal with complications because the patient has left the country shortly after treatment must be quite convenient for the surgeons. I wonder if they would provide the same treatment for local patients who they would have to manage if complications occurred.

If you have any problems once you get home then our doctors may not be able to establish exactly what has happened because the foreign surgeon is under no legal obligation to share their records, and if they do there may be issues translating them (especially if it is an emergency).

Regulation of medical professionals is also not as strict as in the UK so you could end up with someone who is not working to the standard that is acceptable here. Although there will be some very good surgeons operating to a very high standard, I suspect these will probably not be offering the kind of deals that make travelling there such a bargain.

They way some patients in the media have described their treatment abroad also suggests that the treatment has not been fully explained to them - not sure if this is due to the language barrier or because there are laxer rules on what info needs to be given to patients.

I'm sorry to be so negative but I do think it's important that people who travel abroad have made a decision that is based on all of the available information. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

Sorry just seen your last post! I hope you can find a way to address the problems you gave been having here - the advice some posters have about NHS weight loss services via the GP sounded a good place to start

Going abroad for cheap surgery doesn't sit right with me

Ex NHS here, just so you know why Im possibly so vehement

You go abroad, it goes wrong, and then the NHS is expected to pick up the pieces and possibly save your lives

The NHS is on its knees, it stopped doing cosmetic surgery years ago to save money, even bariatric surgery is limited to the very committed , to save money. The money that is now needed to fund infection control ( covid) to keep the NHS running to some degree ( its not perfect )

Sure go abroad for cheap surgery, but please fly back when it all goes wrong and pay for it to be sorted ( not just to the OP, but anyone thinking of doing it ) I dont want to be sat in A&E for 24hrs to see a Doctor cos resources are being used on your botched surgery

I just watched the video posted upthread. I knew liposuction was brutal but the way they were sweeping the canula was like rodding a drain.
Plus all the showing off for Insta while the patient is blissfully unaware .

Though it still begs the question why do this voluntarily to yourself ?

I can see why people go for surgery in Turkey . Cheaper yes . A four hour flight is within reasonable reach if you are well.
Couple of weeks recovery in the sun.
Sounds like a breeze .
Maybe they think less pressure . Less judging ?

I didn't know that BBL (Brazilian Butt Lift) was banned in many areas .

Wrong.You very much can get specialist insurance cover for surgery abroad
Thank you Captain Obvious, for pointing out that normal holiday insurance is not enough!!!!

Actually if you read the exclusion clauses on the very few policies which appear to cover medical tourism eg https://clinichunter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/SWU_ClinicHunter_final_ENPL.pdf
you will see treatment required as a result of proceedures done for "beautification" and the proceedures themselves are specifically excluded and will only cover "life threatening " treatment also see eg https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5b28c29929711489acf03165/t/64e4ad1ed0caac53663db33c/1692708127271/Medical+Travel+Shield+%28Cosmetic+Dental+Elective%29+Policy+Summary+V4.pdf
Many/most policies are not available in the U.K.

I only point this out as I was involved in a heart breaking case where someone ended up in a vegetative state and their travel insurance did not cover the costs of repatriating them , it was invalidated because they travelled for surgery so they had no cover. They died , after many months , alone because their relatives could not afford the costs to bring them home , or to stay out there.

There is a reason health staff often make bad patients, they know what’s going on. In another lifetime I started my career working in the NHS and worked in a day surgery unit that performed procedures under both local and general anaesthetic. Having seen hundreds of people under general anaesthetic I would never have an unnecessary GA and cosmetic surgery is a choice. It is not a reflection on staff or care it’s a reflection on the risk associated with it overall and having seen how helpless people are when under anaesthetic.

Also what @suki1964 has written about it not sitting right. Whilst there is an argument about people taking risks and the NHS having to sort it out in everyday life. This is an absolute choice to get on a plane and undergo a medical procedure.

I have been watching the stories of people who have been botched, non stop. I now feel so stupid for even considering it.

Whenever I had private treatment in the Uk it has always been excellent.

I have even watched the people who have had gastric sleeves and the amount of complications with that surgery wherever you go, is common and life-changing in a bad way. Obviously it can be good for those where the pros outweigh the cons and obesity could kill them. I just remember one lady said, she didn't care about being slim anymore, she just wants her health back. I know how hard it is to lose weight like a normal person due to some issues I have, but I will do everything I can as I really don't want anything so drastic.

Also I have noticed that most of the people are still eating crap, processed food once the stomach stretches and they can eat normal food. Lots of chocolate, sausage rolls, sugary Starbucks. etc. No wonder the weight goes back on in a large percentage of cases.

When I stopped working in an office and commuting for approx 11 hours a day, weight came off naturally. I think lack of time and constant work contribute to the difficulty losing weight. Plus if you have insulin resistance and other endocrinology challenges this type of lifestyle is poison.

Are there any organisations I can get involved with that helps people who have been bitched abroad and to help raise awareness?
I heard BAAPS are doing case studies to raise awareness.

I feel so foolish for even considering it and I'm grateful for people changing my mind and I would like to do the same.

I'm glad you have decided against going to Turkey. The stories of what can go wrong are scary and you are right to reconsider.

I hope you find a solution for your weight problem. I am about 30-35 lbs overweight but I realize it's my own damn fault and only I can change it.

Best of luck to you OP.

Through the boob. It sounds insane but that’s what happened to her. Completely ruined her career due to the ongoing health complications. I’m not going to respond to posters who don’t believe it. I probably wouldn’t have either if it wasn’t someone I know.

I'm really saggy but even my boob roots are a good hand span from my kidneys with an awful lot in between.

People saying "wouldn't you notice a scar" ?

I have a scar under my armpit , a scar in my side and a scar nearer my back .
After surgery I was obviously in discomfort and bruised so not up for looking too much.

One scar was from the surgery itself , one from the camera and one from a drainage tube .

I had a scan after , they talked me through what was going on "Oh you don't have a gallbladder" (it was removed a few years before) .