Fury as Transport for London is caught advertising surgery in Turkey
- TfL hosted ads urging Britons to head to Turkey for breast aesthetic surgery
- But experts urged Brits to weigh up potential cost savings against surgery risks
- Shannon Bowe, 28, from Denny, died last weekend while undergoing surgery
Sadiq Khan has today come under fire for allowing Tube ads for cosmetic surgery in Turkey.
Ekol International Hospitals showcased its cut-price boob jobs, with the promise of return flights and an all-inclusive hotel stay.
The clinic offered lifts for as little as £3,000, up to half the price of private clinics in Britain.
Experts today urged Brits to consider ‘any cost-savings against the possible risks’ of surgery abroad and assess research providers ‘carefully’.
MailOnline’s revelation comes just days after a British woman died during a weight loss op in Turkey.
Shannon Bowe, 28, flew to get a gastric band. It is unclear at which medical facility she received the operation or what complications led to her death.
TfL did not confirm how much it earned from adverts by Ekol International Hospitals, based in Izmir.
The transport network outsources its ad space to independent companies and then takes a cut of the money.
A TfL spokesperson told MailOnline the campaign was reviewed against advertising policy, as well as ASA’s non-broadcast advertising UK code.
They added: ‘Each advert is considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account a range of factors such as the imagery and language being used.
‘We are always mindful of how we can keep our advertising policy relevant and effective, including having regular discussions with the Advertising Standards Authority and taking into account any new guidance.’
But it is not the first time TfL has come under fire for controversial adverts.
Just months ago in November, it was accused of ‘unethically’ advertising ‘Turkey Teeth’ procedures, after promoting Istanbul-based dental clinic Dentakay, which offers the ‘Hollywood Smile’ treatment.
Mr Ahmed Ahmed, a bariatric surgeon and Royal College of Surgeons of England council member, told MailOnline today: ‘The RCS England is aware, anecdotally, of an increase in patients choosing to go abroad for surgery.
‘Some will do so to avoid long NHS waiting lists for operations such as hip and knee replacements.
‘Others will be looking for cheaper options for cosmetic surgery, which is not available on the NHS.
‘As a bariatric surgeon, I am also aware of patients having weight loss surgery outside of the UK.’
He added: ‘A lot of clinics and hospitals abroad will offer an excellent level of care. However, this is not always the case.
‘While surgery abroad might be a cheaper option, I would urge patients to consider any cost-savings against the possible risks of having surgery outside of the UK.
‘It is important to very carefully research providers and understand the care that will be received before and after the operation.
‘Ask what their procedures are if there are any complications after you return home.
‘The UK has strict pre- and post-operative regulations and guidance to keep patients safe.’
Dawn Knight, of the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners, a body dedicated to promoting good practise in the cosmetic industry, also told MailOnline: ‘Unfortunately Ekol is a company known to the patient community.’
She added: ‘30,000 successful surgeries, how do we check that claim?
‘If its cheap surgery, do your thorough research, pay on a credit card. If they are insisting on cash, run.’
Under the General Medical Council’s (GMC) guidance for doctors who offer cosmetic interventions, ‘marketing must be responsible’ and should not ‘minimise or trivialise the risks of interventions’.
Promotional tactics must also not be used ‘in ways that could encourage people to make an ill-considered decision’.
The GMC told MailOnline today it only has powers to regulate individual doctors on the UK medical register and is not able to assist on matters involving practice outside the UK.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), which regulates Tube ads, has banned adverts on taste grounds in the past.
There is no suggestion this advert flouts the rules.
For decades, Britons have been warned against seeking cheaper surgery 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 it and the UK — as well as the rise of the trend combining cosmetic surgery with a holiday — have made it one of the leading destinations for Britons looking to go under the knife.
Dozens have required corrective surgery upon return to the UK, costing the taxpayer millions and taking up precious NHS resources.
And at least 20 Brits have died in Turkey alone following surgery, including mother-of-three Leah Cambridge who had a botched Brazilian Bum Lift in 2018.
Some surgeons in the country will perform procedures deemed too dangerous or unethical in Britain. Others will skimp on aftercare, according to campaigners, which can leave patients vulnerable to dangerous complications.
Earlier this week, MailOnline revealed the family of Carol Keenan, 54, who died after Brazilian Butt Lift surgery in Turkey, are still battling to get the results of her autopsy more than 11 months on.
Ms Keenan paid £7,000 to undergo the buttock enhancement procedure and a tummy tuck at a private hospital in Istanbul.
She accepted also an offer to get free abdominal muscle repair surgery shortly before she was taken into the operating theatre.
But Ms Keenan of Glenrothes, Fife, collapsed and died before she was due to have a final check up and fly home, just six days after her surgery.
