Lauren Simon and doctors call for more protection for botched surgeries abroad
A reality TV star thought she was going to die after undergoing traumatic cosmetic surgery abroad. Lauren Simon is best known for her role ITV Show The Real Housewives of Cheshire.
However, he is now being treated at Pall Mall Medical, which has health centers in Liverpool city center, Newton-le-Willows and Manchester, after experiencing complications from breast surgery in Turkey. She and the medical center are calling for stricter regulations on social media advertising these procedures and a national registry for cosmetic complications abroad.
Talking to you ITV Granda reportsLauren said she had huge regrets about having the procedure. He said: “I thought I was going to die. I was really bad. I almost lost my nipple.
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“It turned black. I think it’s nipple necrosis. I couldn’t sleep. i was crying They kept telling me I was fine. I was lucky to call home and my friend put me in touch with a very top plastic surgeon who said, “your nipple is dying.” The entire nipple was black, crusted, infected. They kept telling me he was fine, but he was coming out with this fluid.”
Nipple necrosis occurs when there is a lack of blood supply to the nipple and can occur during breast surgery. Lauren said she would urge others not to have complicated cosmetic procedures abroad.
She said: “My left breast is hard. Now I found out that two different surgeons did work on my breast, [they] I had different needles in my left and right breast.
“What you have to remember is that you are alone, in another country with people making fun of you. Once you’re back in the UK there’s no aftercare, they don’t care about you. If you get an infection or something goes wrong, you can go back to them, but who wants to go back to a place where they’ve messed you up?”
The show also spoke with Stacey Bates. Stacey and her sister opted for cosmetic breast surgery abroad as it was around £6,500 cheaper but are now regretting it. She said: “On the day of the operation we were in bed and the man came in and took our cash. Then the man doing the anesthesia put on his mask.
“He said, ‘bedtime, bye.’ Next thing, I woke up and I wasn’t feeling well. I hate looking in the mirror now. I was so self-conscious anyway, so I did them.
“It has changed it in a different way. I’m ashamed. I don’t want to look at them. I just wish I had done my research here, bit the bullet and done it here.”
Pall Mall Medical has argued that as the temptation for budget surgery packages increases among Britons, so do the cases of failure and serious complications, putting a strain on both the NHS and UK private clinics. Dr Simon Theobalds, GP and A&E Doctor at Pall Mall Medical, said: “Cosmetic surgery can be transformative when done right. However, without the necessary safety measures, it can lead to tragic consequences, both physical and emotional.”
According to the latest figures, 28 Britons have died from complications from procedures abroad since 2019, including seven deaths in 2024 alone – among them, the tragic case of mother-of-two Kaydell Brown, who died after traveling to Turkey. for a Brazilian butt lift, tummy tuck and breast augmentation costing £5,400.
Despite being a discretionary option, the health care center says the financial and emotional toll on patients and the NHS has been staggering. It is estimated that the health service spends more than £9,000 per patient treating complications from cosmetic surgery abroad, a situation Pall Mall describes as “unsustainable and preventable”.
Highlighting the dangers of ‘too good to be true’ social media advertising, Pall Mall warns that the allure of discounted deals is blinding many to the serious risks. Dr Theobalds said: “We see patients attracted by half-price tummy tuck or breast augmentation deals, but these clinics often do not meet the safety standards required in the UK.
“Language barriers can also lead to misunderstandings and hygiene standards are often compromised. People don’t realize they may be being treated by unqualified practitioners and, unfortunately, some end up paying the ultimate price – their lives.”
Key proposals include tighter regulations on social media advertising, a national public awareness campaign and the creation of a national registry of overseas cosmetic complications. To highlight the risks, on Wednesday 20 November Pall Mall staged a protest outside Terminal Two at Manchester Airport to encourage travelers considering making changes abroad to know the facts before flying out for cosmetic procedures reduced price.
Specialists from the team also provided a training person at clinics in Pall Mall to discuss safety issues, share information from corrective surgery and provide guidance on choosing specialist surgeons. Lauren joined the protest.
Dr Theobalds said: “The cost of these cheap quick-fix operations abroad extends far beyond the financial. Corrective procedures can end up costing double or triple the original procedure, and many patients return with infections, scarring or other serious complications. Some don’t make it back at all. How many more lives must be lost before action is taken?”
“Our message is clear: we want to protect lives and ensure the highest standards of care. This is about more than aesthetics – it’s about saving lives.”
