Warning: This article contains sad images. In August 2020, elementary school teacher Michelle Williams decided to perform, as it should, a simple nose operation in Turkey. However, the operation of the mother of a child did not go as planned and suffered serious complications and remained in a permanent vegetative state. Picture: Michelle was planning to have a rhinoplasty Unable to talk, walk or do anything for herself, the 47-year-old, who lived in Turkey for only a few months at the time, returned to the UK on a private ambulance flight and now lives in a care unit. in London. “She was definitely extroverted, very funny, very family oriented and just a life buff,” Nikisha Lynch’s sister told Sky News. “It was painful. It struck the family, for sure. It was very, very difficult. “It was difficult for her daughter. We go to see her as much as we can, we try to do as much for her, but knowing that she can do nothing for herself, it is heartbreaking.” What happened to Michelle during her operation remains unclear, but now a legal case has been filed against all those who participated in her medical treatment. Image: Michelle is now in a permanent vegetative state “Offer packages”, long waivers and cash payments – legal problems when things go wrong Unfortunately, the legal way is not simple and taking action can cost more than the surgery itself. The lawyer working in Michel’s case told Sky News that her claim is strong, but “in fact it is very difficult for a foreigner to file a case in Turkey for medical negligence”. Image: Michelle Williams is now in a germinal state after plastic surgery “It may take up to two years before Turkish courts to prove a claim of negligence,” said Burcu Holmgren. He explained that it can be “very difficult” to prove medical negligence if the person does not have the proper documents and has booked the surgery through a “package deal”. The type of ligaments usually include flights, accommodation and surgery, and Ms Holmgren said this could make it “really difficult” as a surgeon or hospital was not directly affected. Another issue is that “most of the time” patients are asked to pay in cash and sign resignations, which are “very large”. “They go far beyond the complications that any surgery can have. And then they literally sign their rights. So overcoming that also becomes a problem,” added Holggren. Image: Burcu Holmgren “My legs were necrotic” – a surgery that turned into a fatal condition One of these people was Michelle Heath. For a decade, she worked hard for the body of her dreams, losing more than 10 stones – but she could not change the loose skin she left behind. Image: Michelle Heath paid to lift her leg and back “When I was doing bodybuilding, I noticed that my back was drooping, my inner legs were hanging below my knees. And it was not just ugly, but it was painful,” Michelle said. She spent years putting loose skin on her underwear and finally decided she needed a more permanent solution. Michelle paid around 17 4,173 for a package that included leg and back lift, flights and a five-night stay in Turkey. Image: Michelle was left with unnecessary skin after losing weight He returned to Northern Ireland with open wounds and serious infections, requiring two more surgeries and skin grafts. The 40-year-old claimed that liposuction was performed without her permission, as well as a Brazilian bum lift, which she did not know until the third day of her recovery. “Of all the surgeries that were performed on me, none of them worked,” he said. She explained that the pain was so great that she could not sit on the toilet, urinated on herself and fainted in front of a doctor. Picture: Michelle was left with painful wounds Realizing that she was not receiving the care she needed in Turkey, Ms. Heath decided to return home, where she was taken to hospital after her wound “opened by an inch”. “My legs were necrotic, they needed cleansing. And a week later my back was open, so I needed large skin grafts,” said Ms. Heath. “I’m not proud of putting stress on the NHS… but I think the NHS should have fixed it.” 100% of the surgical complications reported in the body came from Turkey According to the British Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), a total of 324 people needed treatment back in the UK for serious complications after cosmetic surgery abroad in the last four years. The “worrying” data show that 44% more people needed correctional procedures in the NHS after traveling to another country for plastic surgery in 2021, compared to the previous year. This is despite the fact that we receive advice against selective procedures and unnecessary travel due to the COVID pandemic. Image: Michelle had to have skin transplants as a result of surgery Of these, 75 women and seven men underwent treatment for complications, including serious hospital infections, emergency surgery to remove dead skin tissue, and some were forced to undergo life support. He estimates that for every patient who needs urgent medical care as a result of health tourism, it can cost the NHS about 15 15,000. “A living hell” – The woman can not close her eyes after the facelift Among these women was Angela Perkins, who paid .000 8,000 for a facelift in Turkey that went catastrophically wrong. The 57-year-old has been left with a deformed face and cannot close her right eye as a result of the operation. Ms Perkins, whose name has been changed, is now facing 30 30,000 for multiple surgeries to correct her eyes, ears, cheek and neck. Follow the Daily Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker “If someone had told me how much the decision to go to Turkey could cost me financially, physically and emotionally, I would never have boarded this plane,” he said. “The last 16 months of my life have been a living hell.” BAAPS found that 100% of the surgical complications reported to them last year came from Turkey, with breast surgeries accounting for 25%. This data is based on data from BAAP members only. He says the scale of the issue is probably much worse. Compulsory insurance can make people “think twice” BAAPS is calling for travel insurance for cosmetic surgery to be mandatory to help deal with the growing number of bad cases. As many patients choose to travel abroad simply to reduce costs, higher risks of complications tend to be ignored, the agency said. “When patients go abroad for cosmetic surgery, they are usually unaware of the surgeon’s ability and experience and there is very little prospect of attending to care and counseling,” said BAAPS President Mary O’Brien. Image: “Usually do not know the skill and experience of the surgeon” He added that patients only meet with their surgeon just before an operation, so they are generally committed and paid for the surgery. “Patients then return to the UK without adequate medical records, if any. Monitoring is difficult. Complications occur and are usually left to the UK system to pick them up,” Ms O’Brien said. He believes that the introduction of compulsory insurance could make people “think twice about a decision that could have serious, if not fatal, consequences.”