Cosmetic tourism is often sold as a package of sun, sea and surgery, but experts have said travelling overseas for procedures can end in infections, disfigurement and death.
Nora Nugent, a consultant plastic surgeon and former president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, said travelling to countries such as Turkey for surgery came with myriad risks – and not just on the operating table.
“Actually, the risks start from the moment you step on the plane to after you return home, and until you’re fully healed and you’re out of the clotting risk time,” she said, noting that travel itself could increase the risks of clots. A lack of in-person aftercare is also a concern.
The British College of Aesthetic Medicine has launched a checklist as part of its “vet it before you get it” campaign, intended to help potential patients make better and safer choices about overseas cosmetic surgery.
As well as setting out red flags to look out for, the campaign suggests those seeking cosmetic surgery independently verify a surgeon’s qualifications, determine what emergency facilities are available near the chosen clinic and find out what insurance the practitioner has in place.
Source: The Guardian, 5 November 2026
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