It may not be unusual for men to buy their wife or girlfriend a dubious last-minute Christmas gift.
But they should avoid the lure of a Brazilian butt lift abroad, no matter how “attractive” the festive discounts seem, the country’s top NHS doctor has warned.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director for NHS England, said hospitals are under immense pressure and dealing with complications from surgery is “the last thing they need”.
Social media is “full of attractive offers in the run-up to Christmas,” he added, but “the reality is that these bargain cosmetic procedures are potentially deadly.”
The NHS has seen clinics offering 25 per cent discounts, all-inclusive packages including hotels and flights for less than £3,000, as well as financial deals in a bid to attract people.
Professor Powis’ warning comes after a series of deaths and medical complications resulting from botched surgeries, with the NHS often having to treat patients when they return home.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director for NHS England, said hospitals are under immense pressure and dealing with complications from surgery is “the last thing they need”.
Fat is first removed from the hips, lower back, abdomen, thighs, and other areas using liposuction. Special equipment is used to prepare it for the transfer before injecting it 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 fat injected into the buttocks can cause 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 lumpy scars around the surgery area.
The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) has advised its members not to perform BBL surgeries, which has increased the risk of people undergoing unsafe procedures abroad.
Clinics in Turkey have been at the forefront of the rise in botched cosmetic procedures 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 arriving at their door with medical complications following a BBL from an unregulated surgeon in Turkey.
‘While many people’s social media feeds will be full of attractive offers in the run-up to Christmas, the reality is that these bargain cosmetic procedures are potentially deadly.
‘BBLs have the highest mortality rate of all these treatments, and too often it is up to the NHS to repair the damage and taxpayers to foot the bill.
‘At a time when NHS staff have never been busier, the last thing they need is patients arriving at their door with medical complications after a BBL performed by an unregulated surgeon in Turkey.
Liposuction, Brazilian butt lift, laser treatments that change eye color and hymenoplasties are offered in clinics in Türkiye.
“The NHS will always be there for those who need it, but it should not be left to bear the consequences of failed BBLs.”
An inquest heard last month (November) how Hayley Dowel, 38, from Eastleigh, Hampshire, died following a Brazilian butt lift in Turkey after the surgeon allegedly left midway through her procedure.
She paid £7,000 for a series of operations, including a BBL, a tummy tuck and liposuction, but died hours later in October last year after suffering a stroke.
Foreign Office data shows that 28 British citizens have died in Türkiye following planned surgery since 2019.
And new research suggests that two in 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 life-changing injuries if they travel abroad for shoddy cosmetic surgery and has promised 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: “Sadly, we hear too often of patients seeking cut-price surgeries abroad only to pay the true price later with their health. “.
‘These patients deserve better protection.
Melissa Kerr (pictured), from Gorleston, Norfolk, died in a private hospital in Istanbul in 2019, aged just 31, while undergoing a BBL.
Leah Cambridge (pictured), 29, from Leeds, died in a private hospital in Turkey in 2018 after suffering a massive pulmonary embolism while undergoing the procedure.
‘The NHS will provide care in emergency situations but will not be responsible for correcting poor outcomes from operations that would not otherwise be available through the NHS.
‘It is good news that the government has said it will work with international partners to try to improve the safety of UK citizens traveling abroad for cosmetic surgery.
‘Achieving this will require a multi-faceted approach.
‘This could include clamping down on aggressive marketing, promoting best practice and introducing appropriate insurance and post-operative care for patients needing 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 travel abroad for treatment.”
The Foreign Office website says anyone thinking about traveling to Turkey for treatment should discuss plans with their own doctor or dentist, adding that “private companies have a financial interest in booking your treatment and literature.” It should not be your only source of information.
The website said embassies “cannot normally help if you have traveled abroad for medical treatment, for example if you have problems with the care received or the costs involved.”