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?

Link to the "statistics" please.

Easy to say when the waiting lists here in the UK are so long.....

Should they also refuse to treat people that smoke, drink, eat processed food, don't exercise, and/or that are obese? Just curious where you draw the line.

Oh, does having your jaw wired firm up skin that has been irreparably stretched?

Turkey has much higher rates of multi drug resistant bacteria - something that people outside of the Microbiology world are often, understandably, unaware of.
meaning even if surgery is ok if you get a post op infection you could have very limited treatment options, options that can only be given IV in hospital or worse case a Pan resistant organism with no treatment options. (Yes that is a reality these days although thankfully not common)

Post op infection can bring so many complications eg implant rejection, wounds bursting open and needing re-stitching or skin grafts. The side effects alone could require emergency care. Sepsis won’t wait for a flight back to the UK.

please reconsider. You only get one body, one life. You’re worth more than that. Save a bit longer and have less risk here. You deserve it.

I think it’s hard to provide links to comprehensive statistics as

1. a lot of the clinics operate as commercial business so they may have a conflict of interest when reporting any complications. There are criminals operating in this field so you may be victimised as it’s become a very lucrative industry.
2. different in laws and regulatory bodies- you’re assuming different countries have a mandate to self report/ inform the public.
3. assuming there is joined up data gathering and surveillance in Turkey. Some countries do regional review so you don’t see the full picture. There is variation of quality of reporting. There is corruption in some countries which affects what is reported.
4. who is auditing and gathering this data? Do you think the NHS will just pay for their staff’s time to survey everyone flying to Turkey? Then what- link up with all the other hospitals here to share research?! How would that even happen.

so the best data would be each hospital monitoring trends and having time to publish on it for conferences or publications as alerts to other surgeons etc.

here is an interesting article following an audit : https://theharleystreetjournal.co.uk/2022/04/25/new-baaps-report-reveals-44-increase-in-complications-from-cosmetic-surgery-abroad/

Here is a senior coroner detailing concerns surround how patients are prepared for surgery there and pushing for the health secretary to intervene some how: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/sep/12/uk-coroner-warns-of-cosmetic-surgery-abroad-after-woman-dies-in-turkey

here is some information about multi drug resistant bacteria which are prevalent in higher rates in Turkey so can lead to complications or death.
https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2022-01-20-estimated-12-million-people-died-2019-antibiotic-resistant-bacterial-infections

ultimately it’s not the responsibility of people on mumsnet to provide a literature review as to why it’s a bad idea. As a patient you shouldn’t have to work this hard either to check you won’t die.

Hi Former,
I'm a surgical nurse in Ireland. We get a lot of post operative complications returning from Turkey. I do know you can get them even if it is done in England or Ireland however we don't seem to have a conveyor belt of these type of surgeries.

A lot have returned with MRSA in the wounds. The standard of care cannot be kept on a conveyor belt system that's seems to be in Turkey.

I've seen multiple wound dehiscence with people having drains or vac dressings applied, and then more surgeries to fix the previous operation.
I myself have lost a lot of weight and would love to get it sorted however what I see on a daily basis would turn me completely off.

If you do go please really look up everything. Also remember some bloggers may have got discounts to promote certain hospitals.

OP please watch this. It is about cosmetic surgery clinics in Australia. Australia has really good health care generally but cosmetic procedures are a different matter, often done in 'clinics' that are not hospitals.

I'm not saying don't do it, but I am thinking you need to be completely informed. To look beyond glossy pictures and success stories. Ask about numbers, ask about what happens if something goes wrong?

If they tell you nothing has ever gone wrong they are not telling you the truth.

Do you have a partner OP?

Of all the responses you have, only @welshweasel and @tazzy73 are medically qualified to give an opinion

Listen to them

OMG @sashh That was a HORRIFYING watch!

Selection bias.
I have had a couple of procedures and know many many people who have had surgery in Turkey and all had fine results.You only hear of the cases going wrong not the vast majority which dont.
Please bear in mind the uk surgeon who posted upthread, probably does private work in the UK, and doesnt like the competition!

I live in the Middle East and had Lipo done here about a year ago.

My surgeon was UK trained, and splits his time between the UK and the Middle East.

He will only operate here when he knows he'll be in country for the next few weeks in case of post op complications.

It was cheaper than the UK and I had torso, back, love handles, hips, inner and outer thighs done.

It was a tough recovery. Because you've had so many areas done, everywhere hurts.

It's definitely not an easy option.

What I will say is you need to find a surgeon who is highly regarded. I chose my surgeon because he was UK trained and I understand the training scheme and his qualifications (former NHS worker).

Also you need to stay put after an operation. If you are having an op and flying home a few days later then no wonder people are getting infections and post op complications and having to go to the NHS.

I'd say at least two weeks before travelling internationally, so that any post op issues can be dealt with before you travel.

It is isn't it? And somehow you think Australia would be fine. But liposuctioning liver? That's just insane.

Yes, exactly! No wonder she was in such agony! They all deserve to be struck off. All that blood and fat on the walls and floor!

This is such a sad thread. Women ‘needing’ surgeries to not look like they do. I know, I know, all that bla bla bla about feeling good etc, but to me it’s only a money spin and a very sad one.

I recently met someone who had surgery in Turkey. From what I understand she first found references to the surgeon on Instagram and followed up from there, lots of social media involvement and wonderful images and outcome stories persuaded her to go for the doctor. Result is a disaster that is apparently almost impossible to fix, agonising and now she is having huge issues finding anyone who can deal with. She's left with one huge gaping hole that had never closed at all and was just kicked out of the clinic in Turkey with zero after care or follow up. It transpired there doesn't seem to be any special requirement to be s plastic paving sure-footed or have extra training to carry out certain procedures there in the same sake way there is here. She Is now on a circuit of every private surgeon in the uk searching for help. She said Instagram was so persuading that's what made her go for it but now realises it was a stupid thing to do, the repair costs are going to be enormous and the damage to her has been massive. .

These stories are horrendous. I hope you watched the video op. Please take care of your body. Personally I would rather be saggy than another statistic.

You need counselling op to explore why you are having so much surgery in the first place.

People say this about being 'saggy'

But if the skin is such that it catches on clothing, causes infection, causes discomfort when sitting down, moving around etc, then it needs removing.

Or the third option, don't have surgery at all. There is always a risk, why put yourself through it?

……I think lipo is a breeze…..
I seriously think you’re deluded if you believe this, but do carry on 🙄
My mother’s neighbour had a ‘facelift’ in Turkey, all I can say is something went terribly wrong and she ended up with the skin sagging so it’s in folds all over her cheeks and neck.

I had weightloss surgery abroad (in Egypt, not Turkey) in 2022. No complications, generally very good aftercare and have had very good results from it.

The doctor who performed my surgery was highly rated and registered with the GMC in the UK. Although having seen from the "other side" he has a huge team working behind his social media presence, including filming patients as they're going under the general anaesthetic (i refused this!) which all seemed a bit strange at the time.

I now have loose skin and am looking into a boob job.

Despite my excellent experience abroad, I don't think I would consider going abroad for more surgery. I'll be having any cosmetic surgery here in the UK.

Maybe she never had 2 in the first place?

@Former no definitely not a wind up! Google nipples stolen during surgery.