A 44-year-old Irish mother was left hospitalised and scarred after travelling to Turkey for a “mummy makeover” that has left her with what looks like a shark bite on her stomach. The woman now wants to warn others against such surgeries overseas and is calling for stricter regulations on the industry. The rise of medical tourism and the lack of regulation in some countries have led to a disturbing trend of patients seeking affordable, but ultimately unsafe, cosmetic procedures abroad. This article delves into the risks and dangers associated with medical tourism and the need for stricter regulations to protect patients.
An Irish woman, Sharon Phelan, who travelled to Turkey for a ‘mummy makeover’ package, ended up in hospital for two weeks with a severe infection after returning home. The 50-year-old mother-of-two underwent a tummy tuck and liposuction at Ekol Hospitals in Izmir at the start of February. She also had a breast procedure. The package cost €4,950, including the operations, two-nights in the hospital, five-nights accommodation at a hotel, all prescribed medication and flights.
Ms Phelan was due to be moved to a hotel 40 minutes from the hospital the day after the operations for her aftercare, but insisted on staying as she was worried about “something going wrong and being so far away”. While she experienced some pain and discomfort following the operations, and felt unwell for a time, she was happy with how the procedures went. Ekol signed off on a fit-to-fly certificate and she flew home on February 10. However, when she returned home, the problems started.
The area where the incision was made for the tummy tuck had become seriously infected. Ms Phelan provided pictures of the wound but they were too graphic to share. “It looks like a shark bite across my stomach,” she said. For the last two months, Ms Phelan has had a surgical drain attached to her in a bid to remove the infection. She also had to undergo a blood transfusion.
“It has left me feeling depressed and some days I don’t want to get out of bed. I’m afraid to cough or sneeze in case I do damage and I’m afraid of the wound opening up again. I’m not allowed to do anything strenuous and haven’t been able to return to work as a carer.”
Ms Phelan came across Ekol on a Facebook advert and said all her dealings with the hospital were through WhatsApp. When she contacted the hospital about the infection, she received a reply on WhatsApp saying: “We have spoken with your surgeon. He said that it looks like you did not walk in a curved position (following surgery). For now, we would like to advise you to apply to your GP and change dressings and also take prescriptions for antibiotics. If you follow up all suggestions, it will heal in three weeks.”
She spent 15 days in St Luke’s Hospital and also had to visit her GP on a number of occasions. Ms Phelan previously underwent a gastric sleeve procedure when 80% of the stomach is removed at a different clinic in Turkey and said the operation went “really well”. In the aftermath, she experienced loose skin and contacted the clinic about undergoing liposuction and a tummy tuck, but their waiting list was months long. “When I contacted Ekol, they could practically take me straight away,” she said.
“The package sounded too good to be true, looking back now it was. They should not have allowed me to fly home in the condition I was in. It was a horrendous experience.”
In a previous statement, the hospital said: “Our patients are closely followed by their surgeons during their stay at our hospital and they cannot be discharged without their surgeon’s consent. Our patients are regularly contacted and even after they go back to their country, our services continue. According to the statistics, complication rates of aesthetic surgeries conducted in Turkey are below the rates of aesthetic surgeries conducted all over the world. Our hospital prioritizes our patients’ safety and thus act in such a way to increase our service quality.” The Irish Independent contacted Ekol for comment but did not receive a response.
The concept of medical tourism has been practiced for ages with patients travelling to different parts of the world for treatment, placing their medical needs in the hands of unfamiliar doctors in foreign countries. While it is mostly centered on cosmetic surgery, many different types of medical procedures are now being performed in different parts of the world. One of the main reasons for this is due to the cost of treatment which is often less expensive in developing countries compared to the western world.
There are various risks involved when it comes to medical tourism, including the lack of medical history documentation, language barriers, and differences in medical training and standards. These could lead to unforeseen complications like the case involving Ms Phelan.
In recent years, countries like Turkey have become popular destinations for medical tourists seeking cheaper cosmetic surgeries. This has sparked a rise in the number of medical tourism agencies targeting clients through social media platforms. While these agencies offer cheap packages, they compromise safety, leaving patients in the dark about the standards of the hospitals and qualifications of the doctors.
In conclusion, the medical tourism industry is growing because it offers an opportunity for people to receive affordable surgical procedures. However, there are hidden dangers that come with it. Patients are advised to do proper research beforehand, including checking the qualifications of the doctors and the reputation of the medical institution. Patients should not place too much trust on online platforms, which are often not factual. Medical tourism agencies and hospitals should also prioritize the safety and care of their patients, providing sufficient aftercare services and follow-ups, ensuring their well-being long after they return home.
In conclusion, the story of the Irish mum who was hospitalised and scarred after a botched mummy makeover in Turkey serves as a warning to anyone considering cosmetic surgery abroad. While it may seem like a cheaper option, the risks and dangers involved far outweigh any potential savings. It’s important to do proper research, choose a reputable surgeon and facility, and prioritize your health and safety above all else. This unfortunate incident highlights the devastating consequences that can arise when individuals make hasty decisions when it comes to their appearance. We wish the victim a speedy recovery and hope her story will help others make more informed decisions when it comes to cosmetic procedures.
