Australian influencers have been flocking to Turkey in recent years to get cheap and quick plastic surgery.
Now the country’s residents are furious that more and more of its top surgeons are turning away from the public health system in favour of the Australian dollar.
With thousands of people travelling to Europe each year for cheap procedures, some locals say they “feel like second-class citizens”. Open recently reported podcast.
“An estimated 15,000 Australians travel overseas for medical tourism purposes each year,” said hosts Amy, Sophie and Kate Taeuber.
They went on to say that Turkey has “become a hotspot” for hair transplants, liposuction, breast implants and porcelain veneers among influencers Down Under.
More recently, online personalities like Skye Wheatley have booked an appointment for a procedure called a fox eye facelift.
With “billions” of Australian dollars flowing into the country through medical tourism channels, some clinics have also begun offering “travel packages”.
Many companies now offer all-expenses-paid trips to Turkey for those willing to shell out a few thousand dollars for cheap cosmetic surgery in the country.
In recent years, Australian influencers have been flocking to Turkey for quick and cheap plastic surgery. Pictured: Skye Wheatley
“The sad thing is that all this medical tourism is having a negative impact on the locals,” the Taeuber sisters said.
‘Many of them say they feel like second-class citizens in their own country… because many doctors are choosing to turn their backs on hospitals to open their own private clinics.’
Besides, the Voices in Bioethics A scientific journal recently warned in 2022 that medical tourism in Turkey may be causing “inequalities in healthcare between foreigners and Turkish citizens.”
“Due to the increasing demand for services, medical tourism has led Turkey to develop its healthcare system and expand the number of people who can become doctors,” the publication said.
‘However, more needs to be done to prevent fraud, ensure fair prices that Turkish residents can afford and help public hospitals maintain some of their market share in tourism.’
Now the country’s residents are furious that more and more of their top surgeons are turning away from the public health system in favour of the Australian dollar. Photo: File photo
The Australian government generally recommends extreme caution when considering medical tourism due to the high level of health risks associated with the practice.
Some of these risks include infections and disfigurements due to lower-quality surgical practices and skills, as well as lesser regulations for medical environments.
There is also generally a lack of discussion pre- and postoperatively about best practices for recovery and whether the procedure is necessary in the first place.
This comes as influencer Skye Wheatley, 30, who won I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! this year, shared her plastic surgery demands earlier this month as she revealed her plans to travel to Turkey for a “fox eye” lift.
The social media star, who rose to fame on Big Brother in 2014, revealed in an Instagram video that she will be travelling abroad to have the controversial cosmetic procedure done.
Influencer Skye Wheatley, 30, who won I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! this year, shared her plastic surgery demands earlier this month and revealed her plans to travel to Turkey for a fox eye lift.
Skye also revealed her plans to get liposuction on her inner thighs and arms, but admitted she’s worried it won’t look natural.
“I’m going to Turkey. I’m going to get an eyelid lift. It’s basically a half-face lift. The surgery itself is not very invasive,” she said.
“I want a minimal lift, I don’t want to look crazy, I don’t want my eyebrows to be higher than they are. I just want a little lift when my face is relaxed.”
Skye said she had “wanted this for a long time” and had the procedure done by the same doctor her friend used.
“I know a few people who have done it and they look amazing,” she continued.
‘A lot of people who see this don’t know much about surgery and they’ll think I’m going to look older, that’s fine, but I’m still going to do it.’
The fox eye lift, also known as fox eye thread lift, elevates the edges of the eyebrows using a gentle PDO (polydioxanone) thread, with the aim of recreating the look of a surgical fox eye lift without the need for surgery.