The NHS should not be “left to pick up the pieces of botched Brazilian butt lifts”, England’s top doctor has said.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, spoke out after several women lost their lives in recent years after travelling to Turkey for cut-price surgery.
He said: “The NHS will always be there for those who need it, but should not be left to pick up the pieces of botched BBLs.
“Not only are they potentially fatal, having the highest death rate of all cosmetic procedures, but dodgy tweakments and surgeries are leaving the NHS to repair the damage and taxpayers to foot the bill.
“I’d urge anyone considering a BBL to think twice before taking up an offer that seems too good to be true.”
An inquest this week heard how Hayley Dowell, 38, from Edinburgh, died last October after suffering medical complications while having a £7,000 Brazilian butt lift, tummy tuck and liposuction at a private clinic in Turkey.
Her husband Neil Dowell, who accompanied her on the trip, claimed that doctors at the Turkish clinic did not outline the risks and the surgeon left halfway through.
Other tragic cases include Kaydell Brown, 38, from Sheffield, who signed up for multiple surgeries in Turkey but died after going into theatre on March 26 this year.
Her sister Leanne told ITV News: “She went in for surgery at about 9.30am and that was the last time I saw her.”
Foreign Office data shows that at least six British people died in Turkey in 2023 after travelling abroad for medical procedures.
Overall, 28 British nationals have died in the country following planned surgery since 2019, the data shows.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting also urged people to “think very carefully before flying overseas, paying what looks like a kind of rock bottom attractive price”.
He said: “I think we need to take very seriously this issue of medical negligence and malpractice overseas.
“My strong advice to British travellers is if the offer looks too good to be true, I suspect it is too good to be true, and think very carefully before flying overseas, paying what looks like a kind of rock bottom attractive price, because you may end up paying the consequences for years to come as a result of injuries, which in the worst cases can be life-changing.”
A recent study by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) surveyed 103 people who experienced complications after procedures overseas between 2012 and 2022.
Some 83% said the lower cost of surgery abroad was their primary reason for doing it, and 66% said they would not make the same decision again.
Turkey was the destination of choice for 69%, followed by the Dominican Republic (7%), Brazil (6%) and Tunisia (4%). Mr Streeting vowed to work with international partners to “try and improve safety for Brits abroad”.
But he added: “We also need to send a strong message to the British public to manage the risks, to do their homework and think very carefully before taking up offers that are too good to be true.”
Consultant plastic surgeon Professor Vivien Lees, Royal College of Surgeons of England vice president, called for better protection throough tighter regulation and educaiton.
She added: “It is incredibly sad that lives are being lost to cut-price surgery abroad. After years of inaction from officials, we are now convening an urgent meeting with experts across health, advertising, and trade authorities, together with foreign governments, to address this growing crisis.
“We are calling for a comprehensive approach to safeguard those considering surgery overseas.
“In the UK, our Cosmetic Surgery Board Certification Scheme sets a vital benchmark to help patients choose Board certified cosmetic surgeons who meet high standards of care and professionalism. This is a voluntary scheme which the UK government now has the option to make a mandatory requirement.”
