Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery Blog – Harley Medical Group

People who undergo cosmetic surgery abroad are confident but not always informed or aware of the potentially huge risks, according to a recent study published in The Guardian newspaper.

The research, carried out on the back of the tragic death of 20-year-old Claudia Aderotimi, asked a number of women why they had travelled abroad for cosmetic surgery. Many answered that they had simply searched online and chosen the cheapest option, saying that looking ‘fake’ shows you have “the balls to change your life”.

Alarmingly, the interviews revealed that many of the women saw surgical procedures simply as “beauty treatments”.

With this attitude towards major surgery such as liposuction and breast enlargement, it’s no wonder that more people do not thoroughly research the risks. All the women questioned said they had attended a consultation lasting on average half an hour, but they were not armed with the right questions to ask, instead relying on recommendations from friends who played down the associated risks.

Experts warn that patients should always select their clinic carefully, ensuring that they are regulated by the Care Quality Commission if based in the UK.

A British woman has died after undergoing buttock implants, carried out in a hotel room by suspected illegal surgeons.

Claudia Aderotimi, 20, travelled to Philadelphia, America, from her hometown of London in search of a beauty ideal, which involved increasing the fullness of her buttocks, with devastating consequences.

Aderotimi is just one of approximately 60,000 people who travel from Britain each year in search of cheap plastic surgery abroad, most unaware of the serious dangers that undergoing operations performed by surgeons who are often unregistered, or worse, unqualified, can pose.

In this tragic tale, the young woman paid $2,000 for buttock implants and the surgery was carried out not in a sanitised and fully-equipped environment, but in room 425 of a budget Hampton Inn hotel. She was then reportedly injected with liquid silicone, which is not licensed to be used in this form due to the risk of it leaking into the blood stream and causing potentially fatal blood clots.

This story highlights the importance of choosing reputable and fully registered clinics in the UK and Ireland, which only employ qualified and experienced plastic surgeons.

In some ways, I can see why people get tempted by the idea of having cosmetic surgery done abroad. The idea of sun and sand can certainly turn your head a bit, especially when you live in the decidedly grey UK most of the time.

Then there’s the price issue, you see plenty of adverts for cosmetic surgery abroad that promise cheap prices and all inclusive deals, people who have a tight budget might think they’ve stumbled onto the perfect solution – but I can’t stress often enough how much of a bad idea it can be!

So I’m really, really pleased to see The Ugly Face of Beauty on Channel 4, as Dr Christian has been highlighting some of the dangers of choosing to leave the country to have cosmetic surgery done. It was really upsetting to hear about the women who suffered at the hands of doctors overseas, and it’s the kind of thing I hate finding out about – but if we don’t hear about the dangers we don’t know how to protect ourselves from them, right?

In my opinion, the most important thing to think about if you get tempted by a cheap deal abroad is what kind of care you can really, honestly expect. After care is massively important, as are initial consultations, and if you’re likely to be back home by the time you start healing – how are you going to get back in touch with your doctor? And what if there are communication problems between you and your surgeon? All too quickly a dream solution can turn into a nightmare experience.

Whether you decide to stay in the UK or go abroad, there are a couple of things you really have to insist on whenever you’re considering surgery and choosing your cosmetic surgery provider. They are: meeting your surgeon beforehand, making sure you understand them – even if it means bringing in a translator, checking that all costs are inclusive and that you won’t be charged extra for unexpected things.

The other important thing to find out about is the after care. While there are some risks associated with surgeries, having a competent, capable and qualified team of surgeons and doctors can make all the difference. Don’t just hand over your credit card with a head full of dreams, think smart guys!

Time and time again I open a magazine and find horror stories from unfortunate souls who’ve decided to have cosmetic surgery abroad and found themselves riddled with complications. And while I would never condone undergoing any procedure like this in another country, I suppose I can see why people might think it was a good idea. (more…)