I Perform Revision Surgery – Here’s What Really Goes Wrong With Cheap Ops Abroad

According to a study presented to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) in November 2024, over 50% of individuals who travel abroad for cosmetic surgery end up regretting their decision.

BAAPS commented on the study, saying: “The findings underscore the hidden costs and potential risks of bargain procedures abroad, with Turkey emerging as a prominent destination.”

To learn more about this high regret rate and the issues people face when heading abroad for cosmetic surgery, HuffPost UK spoke with leading consultant plastic surgeon Elena Prousskaia.

The results of cheap cosmetic surgery can be harmful to our health

Prousskaia says: “As a consultant plastic surgeon with almost 20 years of experience, I regularly see patients dealing with the consequences of low-cost cosmetic procedures performed overseas.

“Many return home with results that are not only disappointing but, in some cases, medically concerning – requiring urgent or complex revision surgery.”

These complications aren’t simple, either.

The consultant reveals: “The complications I most often treat include infection, poor scarring, asymmetry, and, occasionally, permanent tissue damage.

“Commonly, these are for breast augmentation and body contouring surgery. These outcomes aren’t just bad luck – they’re frequently the result of inadequate preoperative screening, rushed consultations and trying to fit in too many patients.”

Undergoing surgery – cosmetic or not – is no small feat, and Prousskaia warns that doing so right after travelling is not advised: “In some cases, patients undergo surgery within 24 hours of landing, without time to recover from travel or receive thorough medical evaluations.”

Postoperative care is often overlooked, too

Proussakaia says: “When it comes to postoperative care, this can be lacking. This could include not having enough time to properly recuperate before discharge, being given inadequate advice to carry on recovery at home and not being properly schooled about how to spot complications.

“Often, when surgery goes wrong, this is during the aftercare – it is such a critical time to be well supported and informed.”

Getting cosmetic surgery in the UK can be more difficult, but with good reason

In the UK, she reveals, we are held to stringent regulatory standards.

“Surgeons are GMC-registered, facilities are inspected, and patients must be given sufficient time and information to make informed decisions. Overseas, standards vary widely. Some clinics prioritise volume over safety, and patients may not meet their surgeon until the day of surgery.

“Revision surgery is not straightforward. Operating on already-compromised tissue increases the risk of further complications, and the psychological impact – from regret to anxiety – can be profound.”

What to do if you’re considering cosmetic surgery abroad

If you are still considering heading overseas for cosmetic treatment, the surgeon recommends following these steps:

  1. Verify credentials – Your surgeon should be listed on a specialist register, such as the GMC in the UK or equivalent in other countries. Ask about their training and how often they perform the procedure you’re considering.
  2. Ask about aftercare – Safe surgery doesn’t end in the operating room. Make sure you’ll receive proper follow-up care and know what support is available if something goes wrong after you return home.
  3. Take your time – Avoid any clinic that rushes you into surgery. You should have time to ask questions, reflect, and fully understand the risks before committing.

“Cosmetic surgery should never be rushed or treated as a ‘bargain’. It’s still surgery — with all the risks that entails. Always choose safety over savings.”

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Jamie Lee Curtis Is Not Here For The Term ‘Anti-Ageing’: ‘I’m An Advocate For Not F**king With Your Face’

Amy Sussman via Getty Images

Jamie Lee Curtis

Jamie Lee Curtis has spoken of her regrets over having plastic surgery in the past, admitting that it made her “feel worse”.

The acting legend says she is now an “advocate for not fucking with your face” and has also drawn the line at having her hair dyed.

During Tuesday’s edition of Lorraine, host Lorraine Kelly told the Hollywood star that Dawn French had cited her as the inspiration for her new short grey “do”. 

Jamie replied: “Lovely! I have been an advocate for natural beauty for a long time, mostly because I’ve had the trial and error of the other part. 

“I did plastic surgery – it didn’t work. I hated it. It made me feel worse.”

ITV/Shutterstock

Jamie Lee Curtis speaking to Lorraine Kelly

The Halloween star continued: “I tried to do everything you can do to your hair. Personally, I felt it was humiliating. I would go into a hair salon, the smell of the chemicals, the feeling of that colour on my hair, sitting under the hairdryer – it was like, for what? 

“So very early on in my career, I had a perm and then had to dye my hair for a movie, and it burned my hair off my head! 

“And the first time I cut my hair short I went, ‘Oh! Oh my god. Oh wow! I look like me!’. Since then I stopped dyeing it, and then I’ve been an advocate for not fucking with your face.” 

She added: “And the term, anti-ageing… what? What are you talking about? We’re all going to fucking age! We’re all going to die. Why do you want to look 17 when you’re 70? I want to look 70 when I’m 70.”

Lorraine airs every weekday from 9am on ITV.

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