It may not be unusual for men to buy their wife or girlfriend a questionable Christmas present at the last minute.
But they should avoid the lure of a Brazilian butt lift abroad, no matter how “tempting” the festive discounts are, the country’s top NHS doctor has warned.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director at NHS England, said hospitals are under huge pressure and dealing with complications from surgery is the “last thing they need”.
Social media feeds are “full of tempting offers in the run-up to Christmas”, he added, but “the reality is that these cosmetic interventions in the basement of the bargain are potentially deadly”.
The NHS has seen clinics offering 25 per cent discounts, all-inclusive packages including hotels and flights for under £3,000, as well as budget deals in a bid to attract people.
Professor Powis’ warning follows a spate of deaths and medical complications resulting from botched operations, with the NHS often having to treat patients when they return home.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director at NHS England, said hospitals are under huge pressure and dealing with complications from surgery is the “last thing they need”.
Fat is first harvested from the hips, waist, abdomen, thighs and other areas through liposuction. Special equipment is used to prepare it for transfer before it is injected directly into the buttocks at specific points, giving the buttocks a larger, curvier appearance
Brazilian butt lift (BBL) surgery has the highest mortality rate of all cosmetic procedures, as the fat injected into the buttocks can lead to a pulmonary embolism, which is a blockage in a blood vessel in the lungs that can be fatal .
Other serious side effects include skin infection, cellulitis, and massive scarring around the surgery area.
The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) has advised its members against BBL surgery, which has increased the risk of people undergoing unsafe procedures abroad.
Clinics in Turkey have been at the forefront of a boom in cosmetic surgery gone wrong in recent years, with BBL surgery costing up to 70 per cent less than in the UK.
Professor Powis said: “At a time when NHS staff have never been busier, the last thing they need is patients turning up on their doorstep with medical complications after BBL from an unregulated surgeon in Turkey.
“While many people’s social media feeds will be full of tempting offers in the run-up to Christmas, the reality is that these bargain basement cosmetic surgeries are potentially deadly.
“BBLs have the highest mortality rate of all these treatments and it is often left to the NHS to repair the damage and the taxpayer to foot the bill.
“At a time when NHS staff have never been busier, the last thing they need is patients turning up on their doorstep with medical complications after a BBL from an unregulated surgeon in Turkey.
Liposuction, Brazilian butt lift, eye color changing laser treatments and hymenoplasty are offered in clinics across Turkey
“The NHS will always be there for those who need it, but it should not be left to deal with the consequences of faulty BBLs.”
An inquest heard last month [November] how Hayley Dowel, 38, from Eastleigh, Hampshire, died after a Brazilian bum lift in Turkey after the surgeon reportedly walked out midway through the procedure.
She paid £7,000 for a series of operations, including BBL, a tummy tuck and liposuction, but died hours later last October after suffering an embolism.
Foreign Office figures show that 28 British nationals have died in Turkey after scheduled surgery since 2019.
And new research shows that two out of three patients who suffer complications after traveling abroad for cosmetic surgery end up regretting their decision.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has previously warned that people risk upending their lives if they are flown abroad for rudimentary cosmetic surgery and has pledged to work with international partners to improve safety.
Professor Vivien Lees, consultant plastic surgeon and vice-president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said: “Unfortunately, we hear all too often of patients seeking cut-price surgery abroad only to pay the real price later with their health.
“These patients deserve better protection.
Melissa Kerr (pictured), from Gorleston, Norfolk, died at a private hospital in Istanbul in 2019 aged just 31 while undergoing BBL
Leah Cambridge (pictured), 29, from Leeds, died in a private hospital in Turkey in 2018 after suffering a massive pulmonary embolism during the operation
“The NHS will provide care in emergency situations but will not be responsible for arranging poor outcomes from operations that would not otherwise be available through the NHS.
“It is welcome news that the Government has said it will work with international partners to try to improve safety for UK citizens going abroad for cosmetic surgery.
“Achieving this will require a multifaceted approach.
“This could include limiting aggressive marketing, promoting best practice and introducing appropriate insurance and aftercare for patients who require revision surgery.
“This week RCS England brought together representatives from the NHS, regulators and government to discuss how we can bring about the changes needed to protect people who choose to go abroad for treatment.
The Foreign Office website says that anyone considering traveling to Turkey for treatment should discuss plans with their doctor or dentist, adding that “private companies have a financial interest in booking your treatment and their literature does not should be your only source of information.”
The website said embassies “usually cannot help if you have traveled abroad for medical treatment, for example if you have problems with the care you received or the costs involved.
