Turkish cosmetic surgery clinics were recently exposed for their unethical pressure tactics in a shocking investigation. An undercover reporter, pretending to be a 24-year-old seeking a Brazilian bum lift (BBL), contacted several clinics in Istanbul. Within a few hours, she was offered time-sensitive deals with discounts of up to 30% off the total fee, as well as incentives to book multiple surgeries. The News Movement’s probe revealed sales tactics that were criticized as unsafe and highly unscrupulous by experts. Doctors are now warning individuals considering cut-price surgeries abroad to reconsider.
Posing as a 24-year-old from the UK, the undercover reporter reached out to various cosmetic surgery clinics in Istanbul. To her surprise, she quickly received offers for discounted prices if she booked early. For instance, one clinic messaged her with a 20% discount valid for 10 days, as well as the opportunity to freeze the discount for a year by paying a 10% deposit. They urged her to take advantage of the limited-time offer. Another clinic offered a 30% discount that was valid for only 48 hours, emphasizing the urgency to secure the offer. They even allowed for securing a treatment plan with an £50 deposit.
In addition to the discounted prices, the undercover reporter was offered a 20% flash discount for Brazilian Butt Lift surgery and liposuction, valid for 10 days. The package, including a hotel stay, cost £2800, with a deposit of £280 required to secure the deal. However, just days later, the clinic reduced the deposit by £50. The reporter received messages from other clinics as well, all requesting deposits ranging from £50 to £500 for various surgery packages, such as BBL and liposuction.
It is known that standards in these clinics are not as strict as those in the NHS, and aftercare can be lacking. Despite this, Turkey has become a popular destination for cosmetic surgeries, attracting British individuals in their 20s and 30s. Among the nine clinics contacted by The News Movement, five offered discounts or price reductions for early booking and surgery. One clinic, for instance, emphasized a 20% discount valid for 10 days, with a 10% deposit required to freeze the discount for a year. They urged potential patients to take advantage of the limited-time offer. Another clinic presented a 30% discount that was only available for 48 hours, stressing the urgency to secure the deal. They also provided the option to secure a treatment plan with an £50 deposit. After the undercover reporter provided pictures and answered medical questions, a third clinic offered a 20% flash discount for BBL surgery and liposuction, valid for 10 days. The package, including a hotel stay, cost £2800, with an initial deposit of £280 needed. However, the clinic later reduced the deposit to just £50, extending the offer for three days only.
Many clinics in Turkey offer the possibility of having multiple body and facial surgeries, including BBL, liposuction, rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, and buccal fat removal, under one anesthesia. Some clinics may request appropriate blood test results beforehand. British surgeons have expressed concern over the rising cost for the NHS to fix botched cosmetic surgeries performed overseas. It has been estimated that fixing these surgeries has cost the NHS around £100,000. Plastic surgeon Paul Harris, a spokesperson for the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS), expressed his astonishment at the findings. He condemned the tactics used by these clinics and stated that it is incredibly unsafe for Turkish clinics to offer discounts and impose time limits on such complex healthcare procedures.
It is worrying that some clinics promote combinations of surgeries that may not be accepted in the UK. Surgeons in the UK typically avoid procedures lasting longer than four-and-a-half hours, yet some Turkish clinics offer combinations that exceed this duration, even in the hands of experienced surgeons. These unconventional combinations of procedures should be questioned from the start, as they are not considered standard practice in the UK. Incentivizing surgeries with discounts is not supported by reputable surgeons in the UK, and the focus should always be on the benefit to the patient, not on offering cheap or discounted prices.
These findings come after last month’s revelation that taxpayers spent £1.7 million on correcting botched cosmetic surgeries performed abroad. The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons reported that 111 British individuals required emergency NHS care after undergoing surgeries in places like Turkey in 2022. Patients were enticed with what seemed like affordable tummy tucks and boob jobs. Some were deemed unfit for surgery in the UK, while others suffered from severe infections, bursting implants, and life-threatening blood clots soon after returning to the UK.
Certain Turkish clinics offer extreme transformations that surgeons in the UK would never consider due to legal restrictions or the high risk involved. Dr. Alex Karidis, a consultant plastic surgeon in the UK, expressed his ethical concerns about these practices, stating that surgery should not be treated like a product for sale, as it involves people’s lives. In the UK, cosmetic surgeons offering discounts and incentives would face investigation and possible suspension. It is clear that different rules apply in Turkey, allowing clinics to operate with more flexibility.
While there are reputable surgeons in Turkey, it is crucial for individuals to conduct thorough research and carefully consider their options before booking cosmetic surgeries abroad. Such decisions have a lifelong impact, and it is important to be well-informed beforehand.
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