A British woman has died after undergoing slimming surgery in Turkey, prompting experts to warn that cheap cosmetic surgery clinics abroad take unsafe 'short cuts'. Janet Savage, 54, from Bangor, Gwynedd, died following a gastric sleeve operation, becoming the latest Briton to die after a botched procedure in Turkey.
Mrs Savage, a driving examiner and mother of two, is understood to have bled to death after a slashed artery during the operation. Her death has renewed concerns about the risks of travelling abroad for cosmetic surgery, where prices can be up to £6,000 cheaper than in the UK.
Charles Durrant, a consultant plastic surgeon at Ad Nova in Portsmouth, said: 'If you're racing to get to the lowest price possible, short cuts are going to be taken. There have been several deaths in Turkey and there haven't in the UK, now that's a pretty obvious statistic.'
At least five Turkish clinics offer procedures such as Brazilian Butt Lifts, gastric bands, nose jobs and breast augmentations at prices five times cheaper than in Britain. Rhinoplasties and Brazilian Butt Lifts are advertised for around £1,500 and £2,000 respectively, compared with upwards of £7,000 and £8,000 in the UK.
In the summer, hairdresser Kaydell Brown, of Sheffield, died after paying £5,400 for a Brazilian butt lift, tummy tuck and boob job in Turkey. Her case is particularly disturbing as portions of her organs were allegedly missing, although the clinic denied this.
Research by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons found that four in five patients who suffered complications after overseas cosmetic surgery were lured by low prices. BAAPS president Nora Nugent said: 'Potential patients need to understand the risks involved with traveling abroad for cosmetic surgery, beyond just the financial savings.'
