I’m a plastic surgeon – 7 things to consider before going to Turkey for cheap surgery…it could save you getting botched
RECENTLY we have seen more and more people jet abroad for surgery, but while some beauty fans are pleased with their results, unfortunately, not everyone has been as lucky.
Whilst going under the knife abroad, in places such as Turkey, is often far cheaper than getting surgery done in the UK, it appears that many people have had complications after such surgeries abroad.
As a result, we spoke to Dr. Omar Tillo, a plastic surgeon and Medical Director at , to get his thoughts on the things you must consider before jetting abroad for a procedure.
Dr. Omar also revealed the dangers of getting cosmetic surgery abroad, so if you are debating whether to book in for a boob job or a butt lift in Turkey, you’ll need to listen up.
The plastic surgeon told Fabulous: “Before considering plastic surgery, patients should carefully weigh the potential risks and benefits of the procedure and discuss their concerns with a qualified plastic surgeon. Here are some key factors to consider.”
Motivation
First up, Dr. Omar stressed the importance of considering your motivation for wanting to go to Turkey for surgery.
He advised: “Patients should carefully consider their reasons for wanting plastic surgery.
“It's important to have realistic expectations about what the procedure can and cannot achieve.
“I suggest discussing this with family and friends and having more than one consultation before committing to surgery.”
Timing and travelling
Secondly, Dr. Omar urged people to think about the timing of their surgery.
He said: “The timing of plastic surgery can be critical.
“Patients may need to wait for a certain amount of time after the surgery to allow for healing and to ensure that the tissues have fully stabilised.”
As well as this, Dr Omar pointed out that travelling is stressful and potentially dangerous post-operatively.
He noted: “Many medical tourists will forget about the return journey and the complications that can come with long-distance travel following a recent surgery.
“Flying within the same week of a cosmetic procedure can greatly increase the chances of blood clots, which could lead to deep vein thrombosis or a pulmonary embolism.”
Risks and complications
Not only this, but Dr. Omar urged people to consider risks of going abroad for surgery.
He added: “Patients should carefully review the potential risks and complications of the procedure with their plastic surgeon, and weigh these against the potential benefits.”
Cost
Furthermore, Dr. Omar highlighted that cost should be something to consider before booking in for a procedure.
While your Turkey surgery might be cheap, you should also consider the cost of potentially needing to get plastic surgery reversal too.
He explained: “Plastic surgery can be expensive, and plastic surgery reversal is often more expensive than the original surgery.
“Patients should carefully consider the financial implications of the procedure.”
Not everything you see online is truthful
Dr. Omar also stressed the importance of taking information on social media with a pinch of salt.
He advised: “Sadly, the cosmetic surgery tourism industry is not above massaging the truth to lure patients to medical tourism hotspots, including Turkey, Poland or Thailand.
“Unscrupulous online marketing tactics are unregulated, meaning that the hundreds of positive reviews you see on consumer sites could be fake.
“What looks like a premium facility may really only be an illusion created by elaborate and aggressive marketing.”
Language barriers and standards of practice
Not only this, but he also urged people to consider language barriers if thinking of getting surgery done abroad.
He claimed: “There are different criteria in other countries as well as different medical societies and organisations that monitor and maintain medical standards.
“This, plus distance and any translating wants and needs from one language to another, can make it incredibly difficult to determine a surgeon’s level of certification.
“Even if a surgeon is highly skilled, a patient may find that their expectations for their results are still difficult to communicate when they’re in a different country or time zone to their surgeon without even considering a language barrier.”
Aftercare
Finally, Dr. Omar discussed aftercare and urged potential plastic surgery clients to consider how this would be affected if getting surgery abroad.
He concluded: “Following surgery, all patients require a direct point of contact to discuss their recovery.
“Even without complications, the majority of patients experience a variety of expected and unexpected symptoms or concerns in the first weeks after surgery.
“It is essential that these patients discuss these issues clearly with their care providers and have a physical examination to check for any problems and complications.
“Overseas clinics often provide short period follow-up and do not provide follow-up treatments.
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“It is impossible to perform a physical examination if needed without travelling back.”
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