BRITS are being pressured into signing up for potentially deadly cosmetic surgery in “medical” roadshows at UK hotels.
A Sun investigation found medics from Turkey exploiting legal loopholes to offer consultations promising cut-price ops including Brazilian bum-lifts.
SuppliedOur undercover reporter was pressured into signing up for potentially deadly £5,000 surgery after a ‘violating’ hotel consultation[/caption]
SuppliedOur reporter had a consultation in February with Dr Serkan Suleyman Aslan at the hotel[/caption]
A undercover reporter was pressured into signing up for potentially deadly £5,000 surgery following a disturbing hotel consultation.
She was urged to agree to the “Russian roulette” Brazilian bum-lift — and offered discounts of hundreds of pounds — after seeing a Turkish doctor with limited English.
A legal expert said his hastily-conducted examination amounted to “serious clinical misconduct”.
Our probe into the murky world of health tourism found Turkish medics exploiting legal loopholes to pressure people at UK “medical” roadshows.
In the past few years at least 28 Brits have died — seven in Turkey — after complications from BBL ops.
Aimee Hunt, whose sister Sophie, 34, died following weight-loss surgery in Turkey in 2022, told The Sun: “To hear surgeons are coming here to tout for business is disgusting. They are destroying lives.
“People who are considering these surgeries are desperate and the Government shouldn’t allow even more pressure to be put on them.”
Following our reporter’s visit to the Ekol International Hospitals roadshow at a Holiday Inn hotel in Regent’s Park, central London, we can reveal:
THE surgeon was not recognised by the General Medical Council;
He pulled out reporters knickers down – which would have been a breach of GMC rules;
THERE were intimidating sales strategies including hard-sell tactics;
THE team allowed our reporter to self-report her medical history;
AND the translator lied about previous deaths from BBLs.
It is illegal in the UK to practise medicine without a licence.
Legal action would be possible if surgeons prescribed or injected medicine or performed surgery here, as these are “protected acts”.
But it is unclear if examinations and advice are against the law.
Ekol International Hospitals is one of several that advertise UK consultations online.
IT worker Khelisyah Ashamu, 26, of Romford, East London, died in 2019 after suffering complications from a £3,000 gastric bypass at one of their hospitals in Izmir, Turkey.
Our reporter had a consultation in February with Dr Serkan Suleyman Aslan at the hotel.
NO WARNING
Beforehand, she had to self-report her medical history online.
Despite being promised a doctor with “a good command of English”, she was instructed by a translator to strip — without a screen for her modesty — in a conference room.
Dr Aslan then pulled down her underwear without warning and proceeded to feel her buttocks.
SuppliedDr Aslan pulled down our reporter’s underwear without warning and proceeded to feel her buttocks[/caption]
SuppliedThe Ekol International Hospitals roadshow was hosted at a Holiday Inn hotel in Regent’s Park, central London[/caption]
Sophie Hunt, 34, collapsed and died within 48 hours of her cut-price op in TurkeyCollects
Damien McFaddenSophie’s sister Aimee, pictured left, said: ‘To hear surgeons are coming here to tout for business is disgusting’[/caption]
Then via the translator, he asked if she wanted an injection or implants, advising that implants “lasted longer”.
The physical examination took just two-and-a-half minutes.
During the meeting our reporter expressed safety concerns but was told by the translator: “Nobody died from a BBL or something like that. We don’t have any problems like that in our hospital.”
None of the seven Brit deaths in Turkey after BBLs were at Ekol hospitals and The Sun understands Dr Aslan was not involved in any.
SERIOUS MISCONDUCT
Afterwards, our reporter was seen by sales reps who offered £200 discounts for agreeing immediately to a £5,000 package including flights, hotel and surgery. She was given no medical information, nor paperwork with a plan outlined.
In Britain patients booking similar surgery — which can cost up to £9,000 — get a two-week cooling-off period to change their mind.
Just 48 hours later our reporter got a text offering another £200 discount.
Video of our medical consultation was viewed by specialist regulatory barrister Fiona Horlick KC.
PRESSURE ON ME TO STUMP UP
IT’S no wonder people agree to pay up after these roadshows, as from the beginning I felt on the back foot and under pressure to sign up.
There were no questions about why I wanted this procedure, and absolutely no talking about the risks involved.
I was horrified when I realised I had to undress in front of the surgeon and his translator.
When he pulled my knickers down, I felt violated. I had no idea what he might touch next.
Not being able to speak directly with the man who would be cutting me open left me immensely uncomfortable.
I felt very vulnerable and often confused as to what was going on.
Despite never intending to pay for the procedure, the applied pressure started making me doubt my stance.
If I’d already planned to have the risky operation, it wouldn’t have been hard to get me to part with the cash.
By Thea Jacobs, undercover reporter
She said: “Overall, the medical consultation constitutes, in my opinion, serious clinical misconduct.” She also said the surgeon pulling her underwear down “would be regarded as serious professional misconduct”.
She said: “I have very serious concerns with regard to patient safety. In addition, it is clear that had the surgeon been registered with the UK, it is overwhelmingly likely that he would face regulatory action.”
I have very serious concerns with regard to patient safety.
Specialist regulatory barrister Fiona Horlick KC
British Association of Plastic Surgeon chief Marc Pacifico slammed “the game of Russian roulette” that patients play.
The Department of Health said: “We are deeply concerned by the findings. It’s a criminal offence for a doctor to falsely give the impression they hold registration or a licence.”
Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “The Sun’s investigation has raised serious concerns.”
Ekol International Hospitals was asked for comment.
The GMC confirmed Dr Alsan is not registered with them.
BUM-LIFT SURGERY CAN KILL
THERE are two types of Brazilian bum-lift operations — fat grafting and implants, with the former proving to be the most common.
Plastic surgery expert Dr Marc Pacifico said the fat graft involves liposuction on another part of the body then injected into the bottom.
He said: “In the UK, an ultrasound would be used to see where the end of the needle is and ensure the fat isn’t being injected into the muscle or a vein.
“But when surgeons do it without the ultrasound, they are flying blind.
“If it gets injected into the muscle or vein, that’s when it gets dangerous.”
He said fat can travel into the lungs — possibly causing a pulmonary embolism that “can lead to a patient dying”. For implants, liposuction is still required, with the fat used to cushion the silicone insertions to ensure a smooth cheek shape.
Seven British women have died after having BBLs at various clinics in Turkey.
Demi Agoglia, 26, from Manchester, died in January.
Her death follows those of fellow Brits Lauren Woods, Carol Keenan, 54, and Shannon Meenan Browse, 32, in 2023, Abimbola Ajoke Bamgbose, 38, in 2021, Melissa Keer, 31, and Leah Cambridge, 29, in 2019.
None died at Ekol Hospitals and The Sun understand Dr Aslan was not involved in any of the operations.
Khelisyah Ashamu, 26, of Romford, East London, died in 2019 after she had a gastric bypass op at one of Ekol’s hospitals.
It’s worst decision of my life
Jacqui Wicks, pictured left, developed necrosis after surgery in TurkeyRex
JACQUI Wicks developed necrosis — the death of body tissue — after a tummy tuck in 2022.
She had two corrective procedures to try to improve her condition but has been left permanently disfigured.
Jacqui, 64, said: “Having surgery in Turkey is the worst decision I’ve ever made in my life.
“Every day I look in the mirror and hate my body. It’s a constant reminder of what was done. I still have nightmares about watching my flesh get eaten away.”
She said more must be done to stop Turkish doctors from holding roadshows where they “blind desperate people with amazing offers”.
Jacqui, of Ramsgate, Kent, warned: “The reality is that any serious surgery can be dangerous, and they will not make you beautiful like they promise.
“It will change your life — but not for the better.”