The rise and risk of cosmetic tourism

It’s no surprise that seeing celeb and reality tv stars with unnaturally bright white smiles, perfectly symmetrical faces and defined six packs can make us look at ourselves differently in the mirror. Yet these don’t always come from having good genes or strict gym routines, they’re often the handy work of cosmetic surgeons.

And new research reveals many people in the UK are looking for quick and inexpensive results by heading overseas for surgery, that may seem like a quick win but can have unexpected long-term consequences.

In fact, a whopping 60% of Brits have now heard a horror story about people having cosmetic surgery abroad. The three most common such stories relate to infections (55%), not being happy with the end results (55%) and scarring (45%). 29% of people who have heard one of these experiences said it related to nerve damage, 21% blood clots and 14% separation at incision site!

Ryan spoke to Onyinye Ebizie, clinical negligence lawyer at Slater and Gordon.