Home / Health / Overseas Cosmetic Surgery Horror: One Woman's Cautionary Tale
Overseas Cosmetic Surgery Horror: One Woman's Cautionary Tale
13 Nov
Summary
- Woman's botched breast surgery in Belgium left her traumatized
- Unregulated clinic, no medical checks, and poor aftercare
- Corrective surgeries in Belgium also disastrous, causing more scarring
In 2018, a 25-year-old woman from Essex, UK, named Jade, traveled to Belgium for cosmetic breast surgery, hoping to boost her confidence. However, the procedure quickly descended into a nightmare, leaving her traumatized physically, emotionally, and financially.
Jade's story serves as a stark warning about the risks of seeking unregulated cosmetic procedures overseas and the urgent need for stronger safeguards to protect British patients. The Belgian clinic she visited bore little resemblance to a proper medical facility, and there were no medical checks, blood tests, or paperwork before the surgery. Jade ended up with teardrop-shaped implants, despite asking for a fuller, rounder appearance.
After the operation, Jade found herself alone in a cold, dark room without any support garments or a nurse nearby. She was discharged just hours later, without proper aftercare, pain relief, or a fit-to-fly certificate. Jade flew back to the UK in pain, narrowly avoiding being denied boarding due to the lack of a fit-to-fly letter.
Deeply dissatisfied, Jade returned to Belgium for corrective surgery, but the second procedure was equally disastrous. The scarring was severe and asymmetrical, and the surgeon failed to use existing incision lines, resulting in additional scarring and long-term physical and emotional trauma.
It was not until 2023, while on a separate journey to Turkey for dental treatment, that Jade met someone who had undergone successful breast surgery through the firm Longevita. Impressed by the outstanding outcomes, Jade had her operation in Istanbul with Professor Dr Fuat in November 2024, and the results were life-changing.
Jade's experience stands as a sobering warning about the dangers linked to inadequately regulated foreign clinics. She now supports Longevita's push for UK government legislation that would safeguard patients from unscrupulous operators, ensuring no one else has to go through what she did just to feel confident in their body.
