Web Desk
Seven British nationals, who traveled to Turkey for weight loss surgery, died after operations there, according to media reports.
They say, other people, who also visited the country for the same purpose, have returned home with serious health issues after having had gastric sleeve operations, during which more than 70% of the stomach is removed.
Weight loss treatments are available on the publicly-funded National Health Service (NHS), but a combination of lengthy waiting lists and costly private healthcare has pushed some people to seek procedures abroad.
The operations carried out in the United Kingdom provide treatment for morbid obesity. As it takes years to get one through the NHS, some people are looking abroad for such surgeries.
Turkey has become a famous place for weight loss surgery among people in Europe and the country has long been known to offer affordable cosmetic surgery options. The average cost of an all-inclusive package is reported around $3,700, including five-star hotels, transport, and food.
Different methods are used for weight loss surgery, including a gastric band, gastric bypass, or sleeve gastrectomy. The result is achieved either through the placement of a band, the joining of the top part of the stomach to the small intestine or the removal of part of the stomach.
According to Foreign Office, 22 British nationals have died in Turkey since January 2019 following medical tourism visits, including weight loss surgery.
The Foreign Office’s advice says it is “unwise to rely upon private companies that have a financial interest in arranging your medical treatment abroad”.
BBC Three journalists spent months investigating the trend – promoted on social media – and revealed seven Britons have died in Turkey since 2019.
It quoted Dr. Ahmed Ahmed, a leading surgeon and member of council at the British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society, saying that he has treated patients returning from Turkey who have had an entirely different operation to the one they understood they had paid for.
Dr. Ahmed says the practices are “reckless” and “unethical”. “It’s appalling – I’ve never come across a situation where somebody’s being told to eat more to put their weight up. They should not be offering any kind of surgery at a normal BMI.”
