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?

A referral to an NHS Dietitian would cost nothing. There is no charge to see the one at our surgery. Most hospitals have dietitians on the staff and your GP can arrange for you to be referred to them. It will cost nothing.

Seriously, if you are actually 3 to 4 stone above your healthy weight, your starting point needs to be with the Dietitians, not a surgeon.

A decent surgeon will tell you exactly that, I would have thought.

You’re 3-4 stone overweight and you want lipo? No surgeon on this planet would do what you’re asking.

and if you don’t change your lifestyle you’d put it all back on again anyway.

what a joke of a post. I’m even more annoyed I wasted any time.

Maybe get on the Mumsnet weight loss threads? Some posters are very knowledgeable.

I'm also 4 stone overweight and am intending to lose it in 2024. It's hardly a huge amount, it certainly doesn't warrant liposuction, bloody hell!!!

@lastchristmas80

The Uk surgeon wanted to do more areas, (he said I basically need my stomach doing) the price was out of reach so I said do my arms as I can cover my belly for now. He was a little too conservative with the area he did do and it didn't put me back in proportion.

The Turkish ones look like they do more areas and perhaps remove more fat and proportion you successfully.

And all this NHS talk - I pay privately for my medical treatments.

Maybe the last surgeon also removed some of your brain

Anyone electing to have surgery abroad with the plan to fly home and rinse the NHS for aftercare on ELECTIVE cosmetic surgery: be that teeth, noses, wobbling chins or nobbly knees need to check themselves. The entitlement on this thread is absolutely galling. I bet loads of these people clapped for the NHS during covid, then rob the same service blind through poor choices (ones they cannot afford to see to conclusion). I think it’s absolutely shameful. If you can’t afford cosmetic surgery in the UK - save up. Don’t expect the NHS to play Superman on your vanity projects.

@TheSquareMile maybe I need to go back and ask for a face to face person, instead of that online thing they sent me.

I had surgery in Turkey 2 years ago.

Everything is perfect. Saved my self a fortune.

Actually that's not true because if I simply wouldn't have been able to have it done in the UK.

I've lost so much weight. Am so much happier and healthier.

If it's gastric sleeve I can recommend a wonderful hospital and surgeon.

Absolutely no regrets.

Went as a group of 6 and not one of us had a single issue.

Whereas my best friend who had it done in UK in NHS is waiting for a revision as surgeon completly botched her :(

You do realise without addressing your lifestyle and diet, the lipo is a waste of money?!

Why are you arguing with me as though I disagree? My point was it isn’t just overweight people, as you’ve just confirmed.

@lastchristmas80 Your precious NHS nearly killed me twice and crippled me once. Robbed me of body parts in the end. That was multiple people's incompetence too for something pretty simple to pick up; surgeons, scanners, GPS, consultants. The nurses were great though.

That's why my Polish friends fly home even just for a GO appointment as they know what a dire service it is.

Nearly killed my brother with their incompetence and did kill Auntie. Ridiculed another family member that turned up at AE. Luckily he collapsed on the spot and they found the leukaemia.

Incompetence costs them more. But bleat on about the NHS.

Why don't your try Saxenda or Wegovy? More sensible given your description of yourself.

Just to point out my GP actually thanked me for paying for it myself in Turkey as I paid extra to have my gallbladder out too which would have been on NHS as I'd suffered with it for years.

I was being referred to the Gastric Sleeve team but the wait would be very long. When I got back and went to see her 3 months out to ask for the required blood tests I apologised for asking for them on NHS and she laughed and said 'don't worry about a few blood tests you've saved the NHS thousands getting those ops done yourself'

She's been so supportive and seemed genuinely excited to see my weight loss each time I've seen her since.

You keep mentioning being put "back" in proportion, so I'm presuming you used to look different. Have you put weight on in specific areas? Are you hoping they'll remove 3 - 4 stone of fat?

@former why don’t you just eat less? That would save you money too, so it’s win win! Do you have so little willpower that you’re prepared to risk your life rather than reduce your calorie intake and go to the gym?

Alternatively, just accept the way you are. No one is perfect, and even the most stunning people don’t stay beautiful for ever. Learn to accept it.

@WheeeeshtNow Good for you I'm glad it all worked out for you. I'm too frightened now!

What a stupid comment.

People who have weightloss surgery are obviously not capable of losing weight on their own. If they were weightloss surgery wouldn't exist. Neither would Saxenda or Ozempic or slim fast or weight watchers!!

If people were capable of just not being fat do you think anyone would be?? You think people wake up and say 'I'm super happy being judged and sore and uncomfortable every day, can't wait to carry on like this because I'm so happy! "

It's an addiction.

If you're too scared to get it done abroad I wouldn't get it done in the UK either. There's just as much chance of something going wrong. My friend is on a liquid diet still 4 months after her NHS op. They completely fucked her up.

You won't hear about it though because it's only a juicy news story if she was botched abroad.

I had rhinoplasty in Istanbul, I think I've still got all my organs.😆

On a more serious note, it was quite scary, although the hospital was exceptionally clean and I felt confident with my surgeon. The nurses didn't speak much, if any, English, but I had a translator for a bit. My surgeon has been very contactable for follow-up questions.

In all honesty, my results were good but not amazing (although my nose was gigantic before and is now normal size with a slight bump).

I had another cosmetic op in the UK and ended up with a severe infection because of dirty surgical instruments so... UK surgery isn't perfect either.

When you say that the NHS left you 'crippled', what do you mean?

Did whatever happened to you leave you with severe mobility difficulties?

I'm wondering whether you are someone who uses a wheelchair.

Yes especially peri belly and upper body. Since the NHS messed up my hormones with their incompetence; I haven't been losing weight with healthy diet and exercise and am extremely tired (which can only be low impact now).

Yes good point. If you’re crippled OP, then presumably travel must be very difficult for you, so you’d need to factor that in as well. And being immobile obviously increases risk of post op complications such as blood clots.

@WheeeeshtNow Yes and they all stick together here to cover it up! Happened to me and seen it happen to others.

Won't the fat just come back?