Scores of Brits who head over to Turkey every year for ‘cosmetic vacations’ — undergoing procedures like dental work and other forms of cosmetic surgery — are now being cautioned about the risks involved.
As per government figures, over 400,000 UK residents sought medical care in foreign countries in 2023. This was largely attributed to long wait times and the high cost of private healthcare in Britain.
Enter the nation of Turkey: a hotspot for said cosmetic procedures. The regions of Istanbul and Antalya are particularly popular for their ‘medical tourism packages’ which include patient airport transfers, accommodation, and conveyance to appointments.
‘Turkey Teeth’ and other viral trends are significantly cheaper in the Mediterranean country — by as much as 40 to 60 percent compared to having the procedure done in the UK. Sounds too good to be true, right? It actually might be.
According to Simon Hood, a travel expert and executive director of John Mason International — an international removals company — the cheaper rates often come with a set of risks.
Daily Mail reported Simon as saying: “Turkey teeth procedures and other cosmetic work can be quite the risk. We’ve all seen the glossy videos on social media with TikTokers promoting practices during the summer, but you need to double-check the practice you’re planning on attending is board-certified.”
The expert shed a light on how medical regulations vary between countries and encouraged people to seek practices accredited by international organizations. Simon explained: “In Turkey, regulations vary slightly from the UK, but any practice or clinic can be recognised by international organisations like the Joint Commission International, or JCI. Having this recognition can help assure you that your deal is both safe and indeed a bargain.”
He also advised checking whether the surgeons are members of the Turkish Society of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (TSPRAS).
“Turkey is notorious for its underground medical tourism, with people flocking in hope of getting a quick and cheap deal. But it doesn’t work like that; cheap cosmetic work could result in serious issues,” cautioned Simon.
Data compiled by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) also revealed a growing number of people are returning to the UK with complications ranging from wound healing problems to life-threatening sepsis.
BAAPS — a charity representing plastic surgeons in the UK — collated a database (last updated in November 2023) which revealed 78 per cent of the corrective operations performed in the UK were on people who underwent aesthetic procedures in Turkey.
“In the four years to 2022, 324 patients required surgery once they returned home from countries abroad including Turkey, the Czech Republic and Lithuania,” the BAAPS report states.
The association had previously estimated the cost to the NHS for each person to be around £15,000, however it stressed that the cost significantly varied depending on the extent and type of treatment required.