TURKISH clinics are offering needless cosmetic surgeries costing thousands of euro to Irish patients via WhatsApp — in a matter of minutes.
In an investigation for The Irish Sun I was approved for €6,400 worth of facelifts, tummy tucks and butt boosts — and a new six-pack which experts warn could leave me looking like a TURTLE — in less than an hour.
And after I was approved for twice the “absolute max” of face filler, Professor Catriona Ryan told us: “I’d hate to think of the way you’d look after that procedure.”
Despite boasting a full head of hair, I was also told I could get a thatch transplant at another clinic for €2,000 if I paid in cash.
Professor Ryan, a Consultant with The Institute of Dermatologists in Dublin, told me: “I don’t think the people who did your consultations in Turkey care, they want you to become their best customer. It’s just a free-for-all over there, it’s so terrifying.”
Woman, 28, found dead in Cork flat was strangled by man she knew, Gardai believe
Some of the more complicated bariatric surgeries, which involve making changes to your digestive system to help you lose weight, are causing problems for many Irish patients and have prompted warnings from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Turkey appears to be a popular destination for bariatric tourism. But it is also a Mecca for less invasive — and wholly unnecessary — nips and tucks.
I found three separate surgeries with impeccable online reviews in Turkey, and quickly made contact with their reps on WhatsApp.
Each consultant, who ensured us they were on a direct line to a trained surgeon, asked for my age (24), weight (90kg), height (6’2”) and whether I had any health problems, allergies or recent surgeries. (I don’t).
After they were satisfied with my answers, the consultant requested facial and full body pictures — from which they would make their recommendations.
Within four minutes of sending photos to one outfit in Istanbul, I was told I would be a “good candidate” for 360 VASER liposuction in my stomach, back waistline and buttocks, with added six-pack abs.
The relatively new liposuction technique is less invasive than more traditional methods, and sucks fat from the stomach to accentuate a patient’s abdominal lines.
Although side effects like bruising, bleeding, swelling and skin irregularities are to be expected, it has another downside.
Chairman of the Irish Association of Cosmetic Doctors Dr Patrick Treacy explained: “Although VASER is being used to sculpt cosmetically by scooping out fat from between the muscles to form a six-pack, it is only an illusion.
“And the problem with six-pack sculpting is that if you put on a bit of weight afterwards, you end up looking like a turtle.
Who can stop Willie Mullins? As concerns over his 'dominance' rise, bookies say three Festival chases are his to lose
“All of a sudden your brand new six-pack doesn’t look like a six-pack anymore.”
DANGERS OF LIPO
Professor Ryan added: “With any procedures that involve fat freezing or body contouring, if you come into a clinic like ours, part of the consultation has to be what has the person done so far in terms of living a healthy lifestyle.
"Without proper consultation, you can liposuction away someone’s fat, but if they haven’t been educated, it’s all going to come right back again.”
In addition to VASER lipo, I was also told that an asymmetry in my lips and nose could be fixed with 1ml of filler, while pumping 8ml into my jowl would achieve “an attractive jawline”.
Without an explanation of how the procedures worked, I accepted, and after an hour of texting I was given a date for my cosmetic work.
Following a payment of €6,400, I would jet off to Istanbul on May 15 to receive my fillers on May 16, followed by a consultation with my surgeon later that day.
On May 17, I was to undergo my VASER and six-pack procedure, and a day later I would check out of hospital and into a five-star hotel.
After a check-up for my lipo and fillers on May 19 and 22, I would be taken by VIP transportation to the airport and be home in Ireland by the 23rd.
Prof Ryan said: “8ml of filler is a massive amount to put into someone’s face, 2ml to 4ml is the absolute max. I can’t imagine any 24-year-old man that would need 8ml of filler.
"I’d hate to think of the way you’d look after that procedure.”
Another clinic also based in Istanbul offered belly and waist VASER liposuction, as well as proposed lipo on my chin, gynecomastia removal (breast reduction) as well as DHI hair transplant.
The hair restoration procedure would involve extracting 2,000 hair follicles from the back of my head and grafting it to the front to achieve a fuller hairline.
Individually, the VASER lipo in my stomach and waist would cost €3,000, in my jaw €1,000 as well as €2,500 for gynecomastia removal, €2,000 for a hair transplant and €500 for the hotel and transport.
This would come to €9,000, however, as part of a “combination discount”, I would only have to pay €7,550, because all the procedures were to be done at once.
Their all-inclusive package also offered an eight-night hotel stay in Turkey, VIP transport and aftercare.
THOUSANDS OF EURO
I was asked to pay a €250 deposit to secure my procedure date of June 21, while the remaining €7,300 was to be paid in cash on the day of the surgery.
Prof Ryan said: “Twenty-four is very young to be getting a hair transplant. And it’s not something you can keep getting over the course of your life — there’s only so much hair you can graft.
“And more importantly, if someone is struggling with hair loss, nobody instantly goes for a transplant, there’s other options that weren’t discussed with you.
“With hair loss it’s about restoring or maintaining what you already have instead of resorting to these extremes.
"Plus if you want to hold on to your hair transplant, it won’t sit and stay there forever, you’re going to have to take medication indefinitely, which I’m sure was not mentioned in your consultation.”
It wasn’t.
A third consultation with another Istanbul clinic found that I was also in need of 24 zirconium tooth crowns and one extraction, as well as a DHI hair transplant.
For both procedures, the clinic charged a promotional price of €4,950, which was valid until the end of May.
Zirconium crowns cost roughly €800 in Ireland - which could amount to €16,000 for 24 teeth.
A hair transplant might cost around €10,000.
BACKGROUND CHECKS
While cosmetic medicine expert Dr Treacy clarified that my procedures are quite simple compared to bariatric surgery, he said “inappropriate” online consultations have led medical tourists to travel abroad with little education regarding what’s involved.
He said: “The big problem with travelling abroad is that some surgeons don’t have the specialised training to perform cosmetic surgery, and it’s hard as a patient to find out if that’s the case.
“So patients need to know how experienced and specialised their surgeon and consultant is and if they have ever had any criticism put against them.
“Doing those background checks is so important, because complications during a procedure can lead to permanent disfigurement.”
And while cases of patients returning to Ireland feeling unwell due to botched surgeries are on the rise, Dr Treacy believes the true figure could be a lot higher than most people could imagine.
He added: “There’s been problems coming out of Turkey recently, some of them related to bariatric surgery, and Irish hospitals have had to deal with some complex issues as a result.
“As this type of surgery becomes more popular, more people are going to travel abroad for cheaper procedures. And sometimes they will pay the price in the long term.”
In a statement sent to The Irish Sun, a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said that they have provided consular assistance “in a number of cases” relating to medical procedures undertaken abroad.
They said: “The Department would advise those considering any cosmetic or medical procedures abroad to consult the Department’s travel advice and to discuss their plans carefully with their own doctors or dentists before committing to any procedure abroad.”
We contacted the three clinics in Turkey for comment.
