Government reinforces warnings against cosmetic tourism to Turkey

The Foreign Office has updated travel advice for anyone going to Turkey. Despite officials removing warnings over an explosion in Ankara on October 1 and a heatwave which swept the region leaving people at risk of wildfires and heatstroke, it has doubled down on its warning against medical tourism to the country.

More information sources have been cited amid serious concerns over deaths and serious complications in people travelling to the country for cheaper operations. In the update, the Foreign Office reports that 25 people are now known to have died in the last four years. It also highlights the risk of catching potentially fatal botulism poisoning after an outbreak of 71 cases in people having weight loss treatment.

However, warnings over medical tourism have been updated - with more information sources being cited amid serious concerns over deaths and serious complications in people travelling to the country for cheaper operations. The Foreign Office said it was known that 25 people are known to have died there in the last four years. In an update, the government also highlighted the risk of catching potentially fatal botulism poisoning after an outbreak of 71 cases in people having weight loss treatment.

“The standard of medical facilities and available treatments can vary widely globally,” the statement reads. “There were reports of an outbreak of botulism linked to weight loss treatments performed in Istanbul and Izmir in February 2023.”

The statement redirects readers to the travel advice site, Travel Health Pro: "United Kingdom (UK) residents travelling abroad for medical treatment, elective (planned) surgery and dental procedures may be at increased risk of complications, including exposure to blood-borne viruses. They may also be unaware of the potential health and financial consequences they could face.”

Travelling overseas for treatment is becoming more common among UK residents. The Office for National Statistics estimated that approximately 248,000 UK residents travelled abroad for medical treatment during 2019. This is an increase from 2018 when 151,609 UK residents travelled abroad for treatment.

"The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons consistently advises against travelling abroad for any kind of surgery, not just cosmetic,” Travel Health Pro continues. “They counsel that all surgical procedures carry risks, even when performed by a reputable surgeon in the UK. They also state that the possibility of complications increases considerably with travel, which limits the availability of aftercare.

"UK dentists have reported concerns about the quality of commercial dental treatment carried out in some countries and the lack of continuity of care. The British Dental Association strongly advise anyone considering treatment abroad to check a dentist's qualifications and experience and whether they are insured if things go wrong."