Carrie, a specialist assistant from Slough, Berkshire, underwent a liposuction procedure in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2022. What was meant to improve her confidence after childbirth turned into a life-threatening ordeal when she developed necrotising fasciitis, also known as “flesh-eating disease.”
“I’m lucky to be alive and to see my children grow up,” Carrie said. She is now warning others considering surgery abroad to think twice.
The Surgery and Early Signs of Trouble
Carrie booked a £4,500 liposuction procedure aimed at tackling “stomach problems” such as stretch marks and loose skin after having children.
“I’m not skinny, but I’m not fat either, but I hate the bags under my eyes and the stretch marks. I want them gone,” she told The Times.
Carrie spent two years researching the clinic and surgeon, reassured by their positive reviews and feeling confident in her choice. However, upon arrival, she was surprised to be taken to a public hospital instead of a private clinic and was asked to pay upfront in cash.
The surgery, expected to last around two hours, extended to six hours. Soon after, Carrie’s stomach began turning black — a serious red flag.
“When I woke up, I was in pain all over and I knew something was wrong. It was that tight feeling that made me feel like my body was going to break in two.”
A Harrowing Fight for Life
Carrie was diagnosed with necrotising fasciitis, a fast-spreading infection that destroys tissue. She underwent an emergency 45-minute surgery to clean the wound — awake and terrified, with a screen blocking the view.
After returning to the UK, Carrie’s condition worsened rapidly. She collapsed as a “huge hole” appeared beneath her wound dressing, leading to treatment for sepsis and organ failure.
Over 12 days, doctors performed five surgeries to remove dead tissue and perform skin grafts. She spent a week in intensive care and was hospitalized for three months. The ordeal required a full year of recovery.
“They ended up removing half of my stomach. I had no flesh on my stomach anymore. I was screaming in agony and was in a coma the whole time I was in intensive care.”
Long-Term Impact and Regrets
Carrie deeply regrets the surgery and urges others to reconsider cosmetic procedures abroad.
“If I could go back in time, I would never do it. If you want to change your stomach, diet and go to the gym.”
The physical damage also affects her mental health. She struggles with body image issues and adjusts her clothing to hide her scarred abdomen.
“It still affects my mental health. I can’t change it and if I keep dwelling on it, my mental health will suffer.”
The Bigger Picture: Risks of Overseas Cosmetic Surgery
The UK Foreign Office reports that at least 28 Britons have died after traveling to Turkey for cosmetic treatments since 2019.
Carrie’s story highlights the hidden dangers that sometimes lie behind affordable cosmetic surgery abroad — where less stringent regulations and aftercare can lead to devastating complications.
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