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Turkish Clinics Deceive Britons for Cosmetic Surgery

Published 3 months ago on Feb 05, 2024

Revealed: Rogue Tactics of Turkish Cosmetic Surgeons Targeting Britons, Subsidized by Government.

Turkish cosmetic clinics are under scrutiny for employing deceptive practices and hidden clauses to entice vulnerable Britons into undergoing cut-price operations abroad. These clinics, subsidized by the Turkish government, are using a range of tactics, including legal threats and financial penalties, to silence dissatisfied patients and cover up the risks associated with overseas cosmetic procedures.

Thousands of individuals travel to Istanbul and Ankara annually to undergo cosmetic treatments at significantly lower costs than those in the UK, often enticed by flashy advertisements on popular social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. However, beneath the allure of affordability lies a web of hidden clauses and potential dangers, including threats of legal action and hefty fines for patients who dare to criticize their surgery results online.

**Shannon Bowe, 28 died after undergoing gastric band surgery in Turkey**

Clinics in Turkey are resorting to legal intimidation, threatening legal action and imposing fines of up to £10,000 on patients who express dissatisfaction with their surgery outcomes on social media platforms. These threats are often buried in lengthy terms and conditions documents provided to patients just hours before their scheduled procedures, leaving little room for recourse or negotiation.

Moreover, many Turkish clinics assert the right to use intimate "before and after" photographs of patients' bodies for advertising purposes, often without explicit consent. Patients have been shocked to discover images of their naked bodies circulating online, raising serious concerns about privacy and consent in the cosmetic surgery industry.

The consequences of botched surgeries extend beyond physical harm, with at least 324 patients requiring corrective procedures upon their return to the UK, costing the taxpayer anywhere from £15,000 to over £100,000 per operation. Despite the risks, the flood of government-subsidized advertisements from Turkish clinics makes it challenging for patients to identify reputable surgeons amid the promotional noise.

**Melissa Kerr, 31, of Gorleston, Norfolk, died after having a BBL in Turkey**

In addition to legal threats, some Turkish clinics disparage the expertise of British doctors and discourage patients from seeking post-operative care from their local general practitioners. Patients are warned against disclosing their surgery history to UK healthcare providers, further isolating them from vital medical support networks.

Furthermore, Turkish practitioners are exploiting regulatory loopholes to offer consultations and promote surgical procedures in British hotels, bypassing the strict ethical and professional standards upheld by the General Medical Council (GMC). Despite concerns raised by medical professionals and consumer rights advocates, these practices continue unabated, leaving patients vulnerable to misinformation and substandard care.

**Abimbola Ajoke Bamgbose, 38, died after liposuction in Turkey**

The Turkish government's substantial subsidies for health tourism companies further exacerbate the situation, fueling an influx of misleading advertisements and predatory practices targeting unsuspecting patients. The sheer volume of promotional material makes it difficult for patients to discern reputable clinics from those engaging in unethical conduct, posing significant risks to patient safety and well-being.

**Carol Keenan, 54, died after having a BBL and tummy tuck in Turkey**

As the debate over overseas cosmetic surgery intensifies, calls for greater regulation and transparency in the industry are growing louder. Campaigners and medical professionals are urging consumers to exercise caution and thoroughly research their options before undergoing cosmetic procedures abroad. By shining a light on the hidden dangers and deceptive tactics employed by rogue practitioners, stakeholders hope to protect patients from falling victim to the perils of cut-price surgery abroad.

**Diarra Brown, 28, died after having liposuction in Turkey**

Brits who have died after going under the knife in Turkey

At least 25 Britons have died as a result of medical tourism trips to Turkey since January 2019, according to the Foreign Office.

Here, The Mail highlights some of the victims.

Demi Agoglia

Demi Agoglia, a 26-year-old mum from Salford, Greater Manchester, is the latest Brit to die after having surgery in Turkey.

She had a Brazilian bum-lift in earlier this year said she felt unwell just hours before she was due to return to Manchester.

Ms Agoglia was taken into intensive care but was pronounced dead on January 8.

Just days prior she had undergone a BBL operation, which surgeons at the time had told her was a success.

Her devastated brother Carl, 37, said Ms Agoglia's family and partner had tried to convince her not to go through with the bum-lift as they were concerned for her safety.

The exact medical cause of Ms Agoglia's death has not yet come to light.

Leah Cambridge

Leah Cambridge, 29, suffered a blood clot during a £6,500 Brazilian butt lift surgery in Turkey.

The mother-of-three, from Leeds, died just one day after travelling to an Elite Aftercare clinic in August 2018.

The trainee beautician, described as being 'paranoid about her body', paid in cash for the procedure after being inspired by pictures on Instagram.

The procedure involved having fat extracted from the waist and injected into the buttocks.

But she suffered a fatal complication when fat was accidentally injected into a vein causing her to have three heart attacks on the operating table.

Ms Cambridge's partner Scott Franks told Wakefield Coroner's Court that the surgeon who carried out the procedure told him he had 'injected the fat too far into the muscle and it entered her veins'.

Mr Franks said when he flew out to Turkey after his partner died, Dr Ali Uckan, the surgeon who treated Leah, had told him: 'It's a guessing game, you can't see where you are going into.'

Ms Cambridge father, Craig, took his own life in 2021 with an inquest held in July last year hearing how he was never able to get past the loss of his daughter.

Diarra Akua Eunice Brown

Diarra Akua Eunice Brown, died aged 28, two days after getting liposuction at a clinic in the suburb of Bahcelievler in Istanbul, in October 2021.

She reportedly underwent the operation to have fat removed from her hips.

While the procedure initially appeared to be a success, Ms Brown 'suddenly' fell ill while having her dressings changed.

She died just hours later.

Social media posts from family and friends described her as a 'beautiful soul' and a 'close friend'.

'This must be a dream,' one post said. 'Still can’t come to terms with this yet.'

'I miss you angel. I'm devastated you were taken away way before your time,' said another.

Shannon Bowe

Shannon Bowe, from Denny, near Falkirk, died while undergoing gastric band surgery in Turkey in April 2023.

The 28-year-old passed away during the procedure which involves placing a band around the stomach.

Where exactly Ms Bowe had the procedure in Turkey and the complication that led to her death have not been revealed.

In the aftermath of her death, Ms Bowe's boyfriend Ross Stirling wrote on social media: 'Sleep tight my angel, love you forever and always.'

Gastric band surgery involves a doctor placing a gastric band around the top of the stomach, creating a small pouch.

When the patient eats, this small pouch fills up more quickly than their stomach normally would, making them feel fuller with less food.

By encouraging them to eat less, the procedure can help patients lose weight.

Melissa Kerr

Melissa Kerr, 31, died while undergoing a Brazilian butt lift in Turkey in 2019, just before her wedding.

Ms Kerr traveled to Istanbul's Medicana Haznedar Hospital in November that year for gluteal augmentation, which can cost up to £3,150.

The psychological wellbeing practitioner, from Gorleston, Norfolk, died from a blocked artery in her lung as a result of undergoing the surgery.

Her twin sister Natasha who set up a justgiving.com page after her death described her a 'a pure and beautiful soul inside and out'.

She said: 'Words cannot describe the pain and heartbreak we are going through, life without her will never be the same again.

'We miss her deeply and nothing will fill the emptiness we are left with.'

Melissa's partner Skye Birch said: 'I will continue to love you with all my heart until my last breath.'

Ms Kerr also worked as a volunteer helping domestic violence victims and supporting people through bereavement.

Abimbola Ajoke Bamgbose

Abimbola Ajoke Bamgbose, a 38-year-old social worker, from Dartford, Kent, died in August 2020 after undergoing liposuction surgery in Turkey.

The mother-of-three bought an overseas package deal with Mono Cosmetic Surgery after becoming fed-up with people asking her if she was pregnant, according to her husband.

A post-mortem examination found that Mrs Bamgbose suffered perforations to her bowel during the surgery, with the cause of death given as peritonitis with multiple organ failure.

Peritonitis is an infection of the peritoneum, the inner lining of the tummy which covers vital internal organs like the kidneys, liver and bowel.

Her husband Moyosore Olowo told an inquest he was unaware his wife had traveled abroad for cosmetic surgery, instead believing she had simply gone on a holiday with her friends.

It was not until Mrs Bamgbose called her husband to say she was suffering from stomach pains following the procedure that he found out what had happened.

Mr Olowo said his wife had visited a private medical practice in the UK for surgery but added that the cost had been too high for her to have the treatment in Britain.

Carol Keenan

Carol Keenan, 54, died six days after undergoing a combined Brazilian butt lift and tummy tuck in Turkey.

The grandmother, of Glenrothes, Fife, paid £7,000 for the procedures at a private hospital in Istanbul in 2022 after becoming anxious about the way her body looked.

Ms Keenan also accepted the offer of free abdominal muscle repair surgery shortly before she was taken into the operating theatre.

But she died before she was due to have a final check up and fly home.

Speaking to MailOnline in April, her family said they are still waiting for the results of her autopsy 11 months on from her death.

Her daughter Leonie Keenan, 32, said: 'My mother was a fit and healthy individual. She was a very petite size 10 and she kept in shape by walking everywhere and going swimming.

'She was a very active grandmother who loved bouncing on the trampoline with the kids-but she was not happy with her body even though everyone told her she looked great.

'She set her heart on having surgery after seeing stories about other people and celebrities having procedures. I don't know if it was like a mid-life crisis.'

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