Dr Leah Totton, who won the Apprentice and runs award-winning Dr Leah Clinics, has warned people against travelling abroad for cosmetic surgery. She told the Mirror that while she understands the appeal of cheaper prices, the risks are too high.
Thousands of Brits go overseas each year for procedures at a fraction of UK costs, but Dr Leah said this trend is driven by price. "The main driver for this [surgeries abroad] is price," she said. "So we have to be mindful and understanding to a certain degree that for a lot of people the prices for cosmetic surgery in the UK are not affordable."
Risks and aftercare concerns
Dr Leah acknowledged there are good surgeons abroad, but added that patients often end up in unsafe situations. She said: "If the price was the same and if it was affordable to have surgery in the UK, very few people would be boarding a 4.5-hour flight to go to a country where they're not speaking in their first language to have surgery." She noted that this issue grew after COVID, with UK prices remaining at their highest level since.
She urged the industry to address pricing: "So, you know, we can criticise patients and try and better educate not to go abroad. But the reality is it's been driven by the prices of safe surgery in the UK. So I think that's something that we as an industry need to look at."
Advice to patients
Despite sympathising, Dr Leah said: "Do I think that patients should do it? No, I think it's unsafe." She explained the main problem is aftercare, because complications can arise immediately, intermediately, or later. "To not be in the same country as your surgeon, I think is what's fundamentally problematic, and I would advise patients against it."
Her advice: "If you can't afford it, you should try and save up and find a reasonably priced UK surgeon rather than taking that risk."
