The Dark Side of Turkey’s Beauty Industry: A Dangerous Pursuit of Perfection
By Turkish British Magazine | Analysis by Fevzi Kemal Torun
Who wouldn’t want a flawless appearance? For thousands of Britons, Turkey has become the ultimate destination for affordable cosmetic surgery. Yet, behind the promise of perfection lies a harsh and often tragic reality—one where dreams of beauty end in lifelong complications or, in the worst cases, death.
Fevzi Kemal Torun, a health communication consultant in the UK and the publication coordinator of Turkish British Magazine, evaluates the growing concerns around Turkey’s health tourism industry, highlighting its risks, regulatory loopholes, and the increasing number of British victims.
Turkey’s Rise as a Medical Tourism Hub
Over the past ten years, Turkey has established itself as a global leader in health tourism, particularly in cosmetic procedures. Official figures indicate that in 2023 alone, 1.5 million people traveled to Turkey for medical treatment, generating $1 billion in revenue. The sector has flourished thanks to substantial government incentives, including financial support covering over 60% of marketing expenses for hospitals and clinics catering to international patients.
However, this rapid expansion has led to a decline in quality and safety standards. With Turkish health tourism companies aggressively targeting wealthy foreign patients, particularly from the UK, serious concerns have emerged over unregulated advertisements, misleading promotions, and inadequate post-operative care.
“The Turkish government’s support for the industry is undeniable,” says Fevzi Kemal Torun. “However, the lack of oversight has created a market where profit often outweighs patient safety.”
Rising Death Toll Among British Patients
While many procedures in Turkey are performed successfully, a disturbing trend is emerging—an increasing number of British citizens are dying after undergoing cosmetic surgery abroad.
UK authorities, including the NHS and the British government, have begun discouraging patients from traveling to Turkey for treatment. The reason? Dozens of deaths, a growing number of botched surgeries, and a regulatory system that fails to protect foreign patients.
At a medical tourism fair in London this February, nearly 100 Turkish clinics and hospitals actively promoted their services. However, bereaved families and media outlets are calling for these events to be banned and for stricter legal measures against misleading health tourism advertisements.
“British patients often arrive in Turkey believing they will receive the same level of safety and care as in the UK,” explains Torun. “But in reality, many clinics lack proper accreditation, and aftercare is either poor or non-existent.”
A Tragic Case: The Death of Morgan Ribeiro
One of the most shocking cases is that of Morgan Ribeiro, a 20-year-old British woman who died after undergoing a weight-loss surgery in Istanbul.
After struggling with body image issues and bullying, Morgan sought help from the NHS for weight-loss surgery. However, the long waiting times led her to seek private alternatives abroad.
In 2023, she discovered an advertisement from a Swiss medical agency, which claimed to be Europe’s leading provider of cosmetic surgery in Turkey.
The agency offered a package deal that included flights, accommodation, and surgery at a fraction of the UK price.
Morgan was unaware that:
✔ The Swiss medical agency was nothing more than a virtual business with no real office.
✔ The clinic in Istanbul had a poor reputation, with multiple patient complaints.
✔ The doctor performing her surgery had no known qualifications in bariatric surgery—he had previously advertised himself as a hemorrhoid specialist.
Just days after her surgery, Morgan collapsed in severe pain on her flight home. The plane made an emergency landing in Serbia, where she was rushed to a hospital. Despite an urgent operation, she died a few days later.
Her family and investigators later discovered that both the hospital and the intermediary agency refused to take responsibility. The surgeon denied wrongdoing and declined to give any public statements.
More British Women Are Speaking Out
Morgan’s case is not unique. In the past five years, 28 British women have died due to complications from cosmetic surgery in Turkey.
One survivor, Sara Platt, barely escaped a similar fate. After undergoing a tummy tuck and breast augmentation in Antalya, she returned to the UK with severe complications that required nine additional surgeries.
Initially, she believed she was receiving care from a reputable clinic, arranged by a medical tourism agency.
However, post-surgery, her wounds failed to heal, and she was discharged prematurely despite severe infection risks.
She has since filed a lawsuit against the hospital and is now advocating for greater patient protection.
“I thought I did enough research, but I still ended up in a nightmare,” says Platt. “These companies know how to manipulate social media, and by the time you realize something is wrong, it’s too late.”
Dr. Iain Whitaker, a UK-based plastic surgeon, confirms that he has seen a dramatic rise in patients needing corrective surgeries after botched procedures in Turkey. “There are many skilled and ethical surgeons in Turkey,” he explains, “but the lack of regulations means we’re seeing more and more problematic cases.”
Fevzi Kemal Torun’s Advice for Medical Tourists
For those still considering traveling to Turkey for medical treatment, Fevzi Kemal Torun offers these essential safety recommendations:
✔ Get insured. Ensure your health insurance covers medical tourism complications.
✔ Secure UK-based aftercare. Find a Turkish doctor or clinic in the UK for follow-ups.
✔ Choose hospitals with UK branches. This will allow you to take legal action in case of malpractice.
✔ Meet your doctor in advance. Do not proceed with surgery without direct consultations with the actual surgeon performing the procedure.
✔ Verify accreditations. Make sure the clinic meets international medical standards and is not just an unregulated pop-up operation.
To Turkish hospitals, health tourism companies, and doctors, Torun strongly advises:
✔ Establish UK offices and provide local patient representatives.
✔ Partner with licensed UK doctors to offer pre- and post-operative consultations.
✔ Adhere to UK advertising standards. Ensure all marketing practices comply with ethical health advertising regulations.
A Call for Stricter Regulations
Despite the growing number of victims, Turkey’s health tourism sector continues to expand with minimal government intervention.
Meanwhile, in Westminster, UK politicians are pushing for a ban on online advertisements for Turkish health tourism. They argue that false marketing and misleading promotions endanger British citizens.
Sara Platt, now a patient rights advocate, continues to expose unethical clinics through social media and undercover investigations. At a recent London health tourism fair, she secretly recorded a Turkish clinic offering risky procedures without proper screening, proving that questionable practices persist despite the controversies.
“These companies need to be held accountable,” Platt insists. “How many more people have to die before real action is taken?”
Final Thoughts
Turkey’s health tourism industry undoubtedly offers affordable and high-quality treatments—when done ethically. However, a lack of regulation and accountability has led to life-threatening risks for unsuspecting foreign patients.
As UK authorities move to tighten advertising laws and increase consumer protections, the message is clear:
If you are considering medical tourism, research carefully, verify credentials, and prioritize safety over cost.
