Health tourism cost NHS £755k to repair complications… in five years

The growing cost to NHS Scotland of treating patients who suffer serious complications after undergoing cosmetic surgery overseas is revealed in a new study from one of the country’s leading plastic surgery centres.

The report by doctors at the Canniesburn Plastic Surgery unit at Glasgow Royal Infirmary reveals it has treated 81 patients in just five years for complications after shoddy surgery in overseas clinics – at a cost of more than £750,000 to the NHS.

That works out at more than £9,000 per patient and, the report warns, the number of such cases is likely to rise as more people go abroad for cosmetic surgery.

The serious complications included infections, gaping ruptured wounds and punctured lungs.

At least 28 British nationals have died after health tourism since 2019, according to a House of Commons report in March.

Carol Keenan, from Fife, passed away in April 2022 after having three cosmetic ­procedures in Istanbul.

She had a tummy tuck, a Brazilian butt lift and abdominal repair to make her stomach more defined.

Shannon Bowie, from Falkirk, died in Turkey in April 2023 following gastric band weight- reducing surgery.

Procedure complications

The research by the Canniesburn Plastic Surgery team assessed the number of patients coming to them with complications after cosmetic surgery undertaken outside the UK, and the associated costs to NHS Scotland over a five-year period.

The report says: “A total of 81 patients presented over five years with complications of cosmetic surgery tourism.

“The most common presenting complaints were wound dehiscence (wounds rupturing) 49.4% or wound infection 24.7%.

“The total cost to NHS Scotland was £755,559.68 with an average of £9,327.90 per patient.”

It added that the study is the largest single centre group of people suffering cosmetic surgery tourism complications reported within the NHS to date, with rates on the rise.

The crippling bill to the NHS has provoked calls to the Scottish Government to increase warnings of risks of cosmetic surgery tourism.

Unregulated overseas firms are offering so-called “non-surgical” treatments, such as lip and cheek fillers, performed by staff with no medical qualifications.

Leading maxillofacial surgeon Professor Jim McCaul says he has treated head and neck patients who returned to the NHS with serious complications after surgery abroad.

“We had a patient who had breast, abdominal and face lift surgery carried out all at the one time, which is not good practice here,” he said. “She returned home with ­infection on both sides of her face.

“People should consider that the flight to Turkey can be five hours both ways and that patients should not go on long-haul flights within hours of surgery.

“They often return ­without adequate medical notes or, indeed, access to the surgeon who carried out the work.

“Complications are a fact of life in surgery, even in highly ­specialised hospital departments.

“But where is this overseas clinic’s aftercare after surgery abroad? If you compare the prices for cosmetic surgery charged by some overseas clinics, they are not much cheaper than a private clinic here, when you consider the air fares.

“It is an awful risk for ­anyone to take with their health. A slick website is no guarantee of good standard in surgery and aftercare.”

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Ashton Collins, director of the charity Save Face UK, which operates an approved register of UK approved practitioners, said that people end up with sepsis because of liposuction and other invasive procedures.

She added: “We have people coming to us for advice after procedures abroad like Turkey when those inevitably go wrong.

“Patients have been blocked by clinics after complaining when complications arise back in the UK.

“The NHS has no power over who flies out who flies abroad for surgery.

“We need an international ­register of good practitioners.”

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Collins added that the constant strive for perfection is stressful, especially for young people who are attracted to paying what appear to be bargain cosmetic.

The Scottish Government said: “We do not recommend that patients seek clinical treatment or care for themselves overseas, and guidance on NHS Inform recommends that people do not travel abroad for surgery.

“If someone does travel for private surgery the expectation is that related pre and post-operative care will also be private.

“While NHS Scotland does not provide standard post-operative care for people who have chosen private treatment, it will always provide emergency care to ­anyone who requires it.”

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‘Warnings of risks would spare injury’

Harley Johns, from Glasgow, suffered serious surgical complications after buying surgery in Turkey for a tummy tuck, liposuction and fat transfer.

The 24-year-old said: “The online adverts for the clinic were glowing with great reviews by social media influencers.

“But I woke up twice during £5,000 surgery and was discharged from the clinic two days later – in agony – to get a plane home. I struggled to breathe during the flight and my arm swelled up, leaving me terrified that I would die.”

She feared she would not make it home to bring up her young son.

Her family took her straight to Glasgow Royal Infirmary A&E where doctors diagnosed a collapsed lung and wound infections.

“I felt awful because I had made the serious mistake of flying abroad for surgery that resulted in serious complications, but the NHS staff were so kind.

“Recent searches online for the surgeon’s qualifications suggest that he is an eye specialist.

“Other young people like me end up with surgical complications and I urge the Scottish Government to act.

“Warnings of risks would spare painful disfiguring injury and also the cost to the NHS for after-treatment.”

She added she has since had treatment for bowel blockage because of fluid that built up and still suffers nightmares.

She said: “I am on antidepressants and may have to face the prospect of corrective surgery.

“I just don’t want this to happen to anyone else.”