The rising NHS burden from cosmetic surgery procedures performed abroad and non-surgical procedures performed in the United Kingdom

Abstract

A growing number of patients are presenting to NHS hospitals with post-operative complications following cosmetic surgery and non-surgical procedures performed in the UK. A retrospective cross-sectional review of electronic records in patients presenting with cosmetic surgery/procedure complications was conducted at a London hospital across 17 months, and a patient survey was used to establish motivations for treatment. 96% of surgical patients presenting with complications had their procedure performed abroad, with the majority performed in Turkey (73%). 67% of non-surgical patients had their procedure performed in the UK; 22% were BBLs. Total cost of complications was estimated at £110,690.00. Cheaper cost was the motivating factor for four of seven respondents to the survey in seeking procedures abroad. Going forward, it is important to educate the public on the dangers of cosmetic tourism, and we urge the government to bring about legislative change to improve regulation in a highly unregulated non-surgical market within the UK.