Is Turkey a Good Choice for Cosmetic Surgery?

It's no secret that Turkey is one of the top destinations for medical travel, and for good reason. The country has many well-educated, trained and experienced plastic surgeons, and procedures are performed at a much more affordable cost. But with this success comes responsibility, and questions have been raised about the quality of treatments, the diligence of regulation and patient satisfaction. Longevita, one of the UK's leading medical tourism companies, investigated some of the claims made in the British media and found serious misinformation. Turkey has strict regulations when it comes to licensing facilities for medical use, as well as strong regulations regarding malpractice insurance. Contrary to what was reported in the British press, Turkish surgeons do need insurance to practice their profession. By law, all doctors must have insurance in Turkey, which is called mandatory financial liability insurance for medical malpractice cases. This provides pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages, while covering the litigation costs of doctors, dentists and specialized chambers working in public or private health institutions and organizations. When it comes to cosmetic procedures, there are no regulations on Botox and filler treatments in the United Kingdom. The government plans to tighten regulations, but nothing has been done yet. In Turkey, however, there are stricter regulations regarding non-surgical cosmetic treatments. Only cosmetic surgeons, dermatologists and medical specialists can administer Botox and derma fillers. A very worrying report by the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death revealed that almost three-quarters of the clinics in the sector in the United Kingdom operate effectively without regulation. The report added that less than half of the operating rooms were properly equipped to perform surgeries and that one in 10 of the clinics actually ceased to exist between being identified and approached. It's not always easy to find real information about medical treatment in the media, because too often competitors give biased views or sensationalist media feed their prejudices. Any medical treatment decision must be made by a well-informed patient, so each individual must do their homework very thoroughly, focusing on reputable sources. The responsibility for making an informed decision lies with the patient. To find the best surgeon, clinic and hospital for your specific needs, you need to do your research before making a decision, just like in your home country. Affordable prices, visa-free entry and short flight distances from much of Western Asia, North Africa and Europe add to the appeal of visiting Turkey for medical and aesthetic procedures. If you have recently given birth and are thinking of having a tummy tuck, traveling to Turkey is an economical option. It's not that it's hard to find reconstructive surgeons in New York, but that cosmetic surgery performed after a failed procedure is very complicated. Cosmetic surgery affirmed what I had always wanted to achieve and gave me the total confidence I had been looking for since I decided to lose weight years ago. While living in Istanbul, I began to understand that the city is a mecca for cosmetic surgeries due to its advanced medical technology and experienced doctors. Christopher D'Souza, president of the British Association for Hair Restoration Surgery (BAHRS), attributes part of the responsibility for these failed procedures to unethical marketing tactics of clinics based in Turkey. He says he wants to help others by sharing information and that he chose Turkey for his surgery because of its advanced medical technology and experienced doctors.