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Stitched Up? Surgery in the Sun

Duration: 3 x 30'

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Cosmetic surgery is no longer just for the rich and famous, especially if you’re willing to travel. This revealing series gets under the skin of the multi-billion-pound medical tourism industry.

From boob jobs and gastric sleeve surgery to cosmetic dentistry, this film reveals the human cost behind the growing trend for cosmetic surgery tourism, far removed from the influencer endorsements.

Social media is packed with glossy surgery journeys, but are they showing the full story? There’s no doubting the positive results it gives to some, but what happens when things go wrong? 

Episode 1:

Cosmetic surgery abroad offers transformation at a bargain. Journalist Aoife Moore explores the rewards and the risks behind these budget-friendly beauty trips.

Aoife kicks off her journey by catching up with her cousin Sean, who travelled to Turkey four years ago for gastric sleeve surgery and has since experienced a life-changing transformation for the better. While his operation went smoothly, Aoife discovers that this isn’t always the case for those who travel abroad for cosmetic treatments. In 2023, The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons reported a 94 per cent increase over three years in UK residents needing hospital treatment for complications from cosmetic surgery abroad.

Aoife meets 27-year-old online influencer Chloe who’s about to head to Istanbul to have a ‘boob job’. Confident after researching her surgeon and clinic, she represents a growing wave of patients chasing more affordable cosmetic options.

Aoife also meets the father of 32-year-old Shannon who died 18 months after having travelled to Turkey for a gastric sleeve surgery. Through his deeply moving account, Aoife begins to grasp the human cost that can lie behind the growing trend of cosmetic surgery tourism – far removed from the influencer endorsements that dominate social media.

Episode 2:

Aoife continues her investigation into the booming world of cosmetic tourism. She meets 34-year-old Lauren, who travelled to Turkey for a “mummy makeover –a combination of surgical procedures aimed at restoring the body’s appearance after childbirth. But shortly after returning home, Lauren developed sepsis and had to have emergency surgery. Aoife accompanies Lauren to a follow-up appointment with her NHS surgeon, as she continues to navigate both the physical and mental scars. The consultant plastic surgeon warns that more patients are presenting with serious infections and complications due to inadequate aftercare. The NHS policy is clear: support can only be provided in emergency situations.

Aoife tries to get a meeting with Lauren’s Turkish hospital at a surgery roadshow, but they decline. Determined to understand the process first hand, Aoife travels to Turkey and reconnects with Chloe from Episode 1, who’s preparing for her birthday ‘boob job’. Aoife joins her for a consultation, where they discuss implant sizes and expectations - offering a glimpse into how these decisions are made.

Turkey is also a major destination for people in search of cosmetic dentistry, often costing up to 70% less than in the UK. Aoife meets Martin from Belfast who’s chasing the perfect smile with a full set of veneers, a style often dubbed ‘Turkey Teeth.’

Episode 3:

Aoife is in Istanbul with Chloe and her husband Chris, as Chloe prepares for her ‘boob job’. The surgery appears to have gone smoothly, and after two nights in hospital, she’s recovering in a luxury 5-star facility. Aoife meets the CEO of the medical tourism company that arranged Chloe’s procedure. He’s pushing for an industry-wide accreditation body to improve safety, transparency, and insurance standards. 

Aoife also reconnects with Martin, one of over 100,000 patients who travel abroad each year for cosmetic dentistry. Martin’s midway through getting a full set of veneers – often dubbed ‘Turkey Teeth.’ Aoife observes the intricate procedure and visits the dental lab where the new smile is being crafted. But while the transformation is dramatic, the risks are real. Complications from dental tourism, include infections and abscesses.

Back at the hospital, Chloe is ready for the big reveal. She’s hopeful, but aware of the risks that come with surgery abroad. As Aoife wraps up her journey, she can see why the debate around regulation is intensifying: for many, travelling abroad is the only way to access treatments they can’t afford at home. And when it works, the results can be transformative. But the risks – especially around aftercare and accountability – are ever-present. 

For BBC

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