Fury as Transport for London is caught advertising cut-price cosmetic surgery in Turkey
Sadiq Khan has come under fire today for allowing Cosmetic Surgery Tube ads in Turkey.
Ekol International Hospitals presented its low-cost boob jobs, with the promise of round-trip airfare and an all-inclusive hotel stay.
The clinic offered lifts for just £3,000, up to half the price of private clinics in Britain.
Experts today urge the British to “balance any cost savings against the potential risks” of operations abroad and to “carefully” assess research providers.
MailOnline’s revelation comes just days after a British woman died during weight-loss surgery in Turkey.
Transport for London (TfL), under the control of the Mayor of London, has placed advertisements for Ekol International Hospitals in Izmir, on the west coast of Turkey, offering aesthetic breast surgery (pictured above)
Shannon Bowe, 28, died Saturday during gastric band surgery in Turkey. Ms Bowe is said to have traveled to the Middle Eastern country to have the surgery. It is unclear at which medical facility she had the surgery or what complications led to her death
UK surgeons are increasingly concerned that the NHS is helping to subsidize poor care abroad, with the bill costing taxpayers an estimated £4.8 million over the past four years
Shannon Bowe, 28, flew to get a gastric band. It is unclear at which medical facility she had the surgery or what complications led to her death.
TfL has not confirmed how much it made from advertising from Ekol International Hospitals, based in Izmir.
The transport network outsources its advertising space to independent companies and then takes a cut of the money.
A TfL spokesperson told MailOnline the campaign was under review advertising policy, as well as ASA’s UK code for non-broadcast advertising.
They added: “Each ad is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account a range of factors, such as the images and language used.
“We are always aware of how to keep our advertising policies relevant and effective, including regular discussions with the Advertising Standards Authority and taking into account new guidelines.”
But it’s not the first time TfL has come under fire for controversial advertising.
Just a few months ago in November, it was charged with ‘unethical’ advertising of ‘Turkey Teeth’ procedures, after promotion The Dentakay dental clinic based in Istanbul, which offers the ‘Hollywood Smile’ treatment.
Cosmetic procedures in Turkey are often done at bargain prices compared to their UK counterparts. Turkey and UK prices are from multiple websites (model is a stock photo)
From ‘extreme’ liposuction to so-called ‘virginity repair’ surgery, there are a number of cosmetic procedures that British surgeons shun. But the same high-risk procedures are still being offered abroad, including in Turkey
Mr Ahmed Ahmed, a bariatric surgeon and councilor of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, told MailOnline today: ‘The RCS England is anecdotally aware of an increase in the number of patients choosing to go abroad for surgery. to go.
‘Some will do this to avoid long NHS waiting lists for operations such as hip and knee replacements.
‘Others will be looking for cheaper cosmetic surgery options, which are not available on the NHS.
‘As a bariatric surgeon I am also aware of patients undergoing weight loss surgery outside the UK.’
He added: ‘Many clinics and hospitals abroad will provide an excellent level of care. However, this is not always the case.
‘While surgery abroad may be a cheaper option, I would urge patients to consider any cost savings against the potential risks of surgery outside the UK.
“It is important to research healthcare providers very carefully and understand the care that will be received before and after surgery.
“Ask what their procedures are if there are any complications after you return home.
‘The UK has strict pre- and post-operative regulations and guidelines to keep patients safe.’
Dawn Knight, of the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners, a body dedicated to promoting good practice in the cosmetic industry, also told MailOnline: “Unfortunately, Ekol is a company well known to the patient community.”
She added, “30,000 successful surgeries, how do we verify that claim?
“If it’s a low-cost surgery, do your due diligence and pay by credit card. If they insist on cash, run.”
According to the General Medical Council’s (GMC) guidelines for physicians who offer cosmetic procedures, “marketing must be responsible” and “the risks of procedures must not be minimized or downplayed.”
Nor should promotional tactics be used “in a way that could lead people to make an ill-considered decision.”
The GMC told MailOnline today that it only has the power to regulate individual doctors on the UK medical registry and cannot assist in matters involving practices outside the UK.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), which regulates Tube ads, has banned flavored ads in the past.
There is no suggestion that this ad breaks the rules.
For decades, Britons have been warned against seeking cheaper surgeries in places like Turkey, Eastern Europe or South East Asia.
Turkey is not inherently more dangerous than other surgical tourism hotspots.
But cheap flights between the UK and the UK – as well as the rise of the trend to combine cosmetic surgery with a holiday – have made it one of the main destinations for Britons looking to go under the knife.
Dozens have required corrective surgery on their return to the UK, costing taxpayers millions and eating up precious NHS resources.
And in Turkey alone, at least 20 Britons have died following surgery, including Leah Cambridge, mother of three, who underwent a botched Brazilian butt lift in 2018.
Some of the country’s surgeons will perform procedures that are considered too dangerous or unethical in Britain. Others, according to campaigners, will cut back on aftercare, which can leave patients vulnerable to dangerous complications.
Earlier this week, MailOnline revealed that the family of Carol Keenan, 54, who died following Brazilian Butt Lift surgery in Turkey, is still fighting to get the results of her autopsy more than 11 months later.
Ms Keenan paid £7,000 to have the buttock augmentation procedure and a tummy tuck at a private hospital in Istanbul.
She also accepted an offer to have abdominal muscle repair surgery for free shortly before being taken to the operating room.
But Ms Keenan from Glenrothes, Fife, collapsed and died before she could have a final check-up and fly home, just six days after her operation.