Lifestyle Trend: NHS gives Turkey travel warning after 12 from UK die in just 2 years You Should Know

Medical tourists requiring NHS treatment for complications from cosmetic and obesity surgery abroad can cost up to £20,000 per patient

Cosmetic and obesity surgery abroad is costing the NHS up to £20,000 per patient when complications arise, according to an analysis which found at least 12 people died in 2 years. A review of surgical tourism revealed that individuals can spend several weeks in NHS hospitals upon returning home from undergoing procedures such as bariatric surgery for obesity, tummy tucks and breast enlargement.

The NHS has had to treat complications including infected wounds, with some patients requiring intensive care and prolonged use of antibiotics.

Researchers also noted reports of multiple organ failure due to sepsis from wound infection, and death due to hypoxic brain injury and cardiac arrest. Data from the Foreign Office obtained by the Press Association indicates that six Britons died in 2024 in Turkey following medical procedures there, with at least six more dying in the country in the previous year.

The authors of the new study, published in BMJ Open, suggested that the scale of the problem is underestimated due to a lack of data on the issue. Experts from Cardiff and Bangor universities reviewed 37 studies, of which 19 included complications treated by the NHS due to metabolic/bariatric surgery, 17 included complications due to cosmetic surgery, and one involved complications arising from eye surgery.

The data included 655 patients treated by the NHS between 2011 and 2024 for complications.

Researchers have estimated the financial burden on the NHS resulting from individuals undergoing surgeries abroad and subsequently requiring care in the UK, with costs per patient varying between £1,058 to £19,549. However, there is some uncertainty surrounding this evidence due to the data available.

Among the studies that reported hospital stay durations, the longest stays were 45 and 49 days, with the average for metabolic/bariatric surgery being 17 days.

The majority of patients in the studies were women (90%), with an average age of 38, and Turkey was the most popular destination for surgery (61% of patients).

The procedures most frequently reported were sleeve gastrectomy (a procedure where approximately 80% of the stomach is removed to leave a pouch), breast augmentation, and tummy tucks.

In total, 22 studies (involving 371 patients) provided more detailed information on complications, with at least 196 patients (53%) in this research experiencing moderate to severe complications.

The study accounted for hospital costs but cautioned that additional expenses, such as GP visits, nursing care or pharmacist consultations, were not included.

Emergency and semi-urgent surgery, dental and transplant surgery, cancer treatment and fertility treatment were also excluded.

The authors stated: “We still do not know how many people resident in the UK go abroad for elective surgery or how many people subsequently experience complications.

“Without these data, we cannot fully understand the levels of risk that people seeking surgery abroad are taking.

“Awareness-raising campaigns and interventions are warranted to inform members of the public in the UK considering going abroad for surgery about the potential for complications.

“Those seeking medical treatment abroad should be made aware of which complications the NHS is responsible for treating, and costs for which the patient may be potentially personally liable, including non-emergency treatment.”

The authors highlighted that UK doctors also lack access to complete medical records or precise details of what occurred during surgery when treating these patients.

Research examining why people travel abroad for procedures suggests it may be due to treatments being unavailable on the NHS, lower costs for private operations overseas, and lengthy NHS waiting times.

The number of medical tourists has increased steadily over recent decades, a trend showing no signs of slowing down, the researchers noted.

The Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS) supported calls for national data on the issue.

RCS England vice-president Professor Vivien Lees stated: “Too often people are drawn in by cut-price deals and glossy online marketing, only to return with serious, sometimes life-changing complications.

“When things go wrong, the NHS is left to pick up the pieces, often in emergencies and without full information about what surgery was done or by whom.

“It should not be the role of the NHS to routinely mop up the mistakes of private providers overseas, and we would encourage the Government to continue bringing pressure to bear on foreign providers and other governments, including to cover the costs of complications that happen in their countries.

“While many overseas providers offer high-quality care, gaps in regulation, aftercare and accountability make this a significant patient-safety issue.

“Better public information, including building on the UK Government’s partnership with TikTok, and improved data collection are essential to protect patients and the NHS.”

In 2024, Health Secretary Wes Streeting pledged to enhance safety for Britons travelling abroad for cosmetic procedures following several fatalities.

His “strong advice” to British travellers considering Brazilian butt lifts, tummy tucks and other cosmetic treatments was to think carefully before accepting offers that seem “too good to be true”.

When questioned whether the NHS should be dealing with the aftermath when procedures go awry, he responded: “We’re never going to turn people away who are in need of care but this is another pressure the NHS doesn’t need.

“So I would urge Brits – before travelling abroad – to think very carefully before accessing those cosmetic treatments that are currently being marketed at rock-bottom prices.”

Kaydell Brown, 38, from Sheffield, opted for multiple surgeries but tragically passed away after entering the operating theatre in Turkey in 2024.

An inquest heard how Hayley Dowell, 38, suffered medical complications at a private clinic and tragically died after undergoing a Brazilian butt lift, tummy tuck and liposuction in October 2023.

Janet Lynne Savage, 54, from Bangor, also lost her life due to major artery trauma during a gastric sleeve weight-loss procedure in Turkey in 2023.

Anne Towlson, 58, who travelled to Turkey in April 2024 for a tummy tuck, liposuction and arm-tuck surgery, was found deceased at home with open wounds to her armpits and triceps.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care expressed concern: “Too many people are also being lured overseas for cheap cosmetic procedures, only to come home with life-changing complications that – as this report shows – end up costing the NHS thousands of pounds.”

The spokesperson added: “We have launched a major drive to crack down on dangerous medical tourism and raise awareness of the risks medical tourism brings.

“The UK Government has been actively engaging with governments overseas on how to support the safety of patients who decide they wish to travel for medical treatment, and will be updating its guidance in due course.”