Sara Platt, a mother of four from Bridgend, South Wales, is believed to be the first British patient to sue a Turkish surgeon after a cosmetic operation went horribly wrong. The 32-year-old mother underwent surgery to remove loose skin from her abdomen and received breast implants, but the procedure left her in severe pain and with lasting physical and mental scars.
“I was left in agony and wanted to die,” Sara told MailOnline exclusively. After her botched surgery, she was hospitalised for mental illness and suffers from severe PTSD.
The Road to Surgery Abroad
Sara’s health challenges began after she lost 12 stone (approximately 77 kg) battling stage five endometriosis and undergoing steroid treatment. The rapid weight loss left her with excess skin that caused ulcers, a bad odor, and persistent infections.
Unable to afford private skin removal surgery in the UK, which could cost around £33,000, Sara traveled to Turkey in February 2023 where the surgery cost £15,000. She hoped to recover in the Turkish sun, encouraged by the clinic’s five-star reviews.
A Nightmarish Recovery
Sara described the post-surgery period as unbearable. She was left “to rot” in a filthy hotel, with wounds oozing brown fluid and a piece of fat exposed on her chest. Nine days later, the surgeon performed another operation using only local anaesthetic, during which Sara screamed in agony.
“I was still haunted by the experience,” she said. The surgeon used a cautery tool that left her skin feeling like it was on fire.
After being declared fit to fly, Sara returned to the UK, where she received extensive care, including eight weeks at the Welsh Burns and Plastic Surgery Centre and ten corrective surgeries on the NHS.
Legal Action and Fundraising
Determined to hold the surgeon accountable, Sara has launched legal proceedings to sue the doctor and seeks to have his medical license revoked. She is fundraising on GoFundMe to cover the costs of flights and accommodation for court appearances, which include examinations by a Turkish doctor.
“I am absolutely terrified to go back,” she shared, citing her PTSD and fear of reliving the trauma.
Sara hopes her fight will raise awareness about the hidden dangers of overseas cosmetic surgery, often masked by attractive prices and marketing.
“I don’t care if I don’t get paid a penny. I want justice and to stop unethical surgeons from hurting others.”
She has also vowed to repay the NHS for the surgeries she needed after the botched procedure if she wins compensation.
Wider Crisis: Risks of Cosmetic Surgery in Turkey
Sara’s case is part of a troubling trend. Since 2019, at least 28 Britons have died and many more seriously injured following cosmetic surgery in Turkey.
A recent inquest revealed the death of Hayley Dowell, a British woman who died following a Brazilian butt lift and other procedures in Turkey in 2023. She was one of at least six Britons who died that year due to medical complications abroad.
Other stories include Cennet Lo, a 28-year-old mother who suffered serious complications and two bouts of sepsis after botched surgery, and reports of patients waking up mid-surgery.
The Call for Caution
Sara Platt’s story serves as a stark warning about the risks of seeking cosmetic surgery abroad. While lower prices and appealing marketing draw many patients, the dangers and consequences can be devastating.
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