Woman who got sepsis after "mummy makeover" in Turkey to feature in new TV show
Journalist Aoife Moore "peels back the glossy veneer of medical tourism and asks whether social media’s picture-perfect surgery journeys show the full story"
A new three-part BBC NI series 'Stitched Up? Surgery In The Sun' is set to air from tomorrow.
Journalist Aoife Moore "peels back the glossy veneer of medical tourism and asks whether social media’s picture-perfect surgery journeys show the full story".
In the show, Aoife chats to those who have travelled overseas for procedures.
A BBC statement said: "Many people have a positive experience with cosmetic procedures overseas and as the multi-billion-pound industry booms, Stitched Up? Surgery In The Sun meets those who have travelled overseas for procedures, those preparing to go, and the families left to deal with sometimes traumatic outcomes.
"Aoife Moore also speaks with an NHS plastic surgeon who stresses the importance of robust aftercare and an industry insider calling for greater cosmetic tourism regulation in the UK."
Among those featured on the show, Aoife chats with her cousin Sean, who underwent gastric sleeve surgery in Turkey four years ago and has since experienced a 'life-changing transformation for the better'.
Aoife also meets 27-year-old influencer Chloe, who is preparing to fly to Istanbul for a breast augmentation.
Aoife then visits the father of 32-year-old Shannon who tragically died 18 months after her gastric sleeve procedure abroad.
34-year-old Lauren also appears in the series. She travelled to Turkey for a “mummy makeover”. Shortly after returning home, Lauren developed sepsis and had to have emergency surgery.
Aoife also meets 38-year-old Martin, seeking a full set of veneers.
A BBC statement added: "In the third episode, Aoife interviews the CEO of a medical tourism provider advocating for an industry-wide UK accreditation body to improve transparency, safety, and insurance standards.
"Aoife also reunites with Martin midway through his veneers procedure. She visits the dental lab and witnesses the craftsmanship behind his “Turkey Teeth” transformation. Yet the British Dental Association reports that 86 per cent of UK dentists treated complications from dental tourism – underscoring the stakes.
"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."
Stitched Up? Surgery In The Sun is an Alleycats production for BBC Northern Ireland. It is on Monday 29 September, BBC One NI at 10.40pm with all three episodes available that evening on BBC iPlayer.
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