'I paid £6k to feel worse than I did before surgery'

A woman who received botched cosmetic surgery in Turkey has urged others to avoid making the same mistake, describing the results as "horrific".

Leah Mattson, from Hereford, spent more than £6,000 on a tummy tuck, breast and arm lift in July, to remove loose skin from her body after losing 12 stone (76kg)

Instead, the healthcare professional was left with a lopsided bellybutton, deep scarring on her arms and stomach area that she says left her feeling worse.

"I paid just under six and a half grand to feel worse than I did before the surgery," she said.

The young mum was left horrified at the sight of her body after it was hidden under bandages and compression pads for two months.

"After nine weeks, when I could finally come out of the bandages, I really started to look at myself and noticed how bad the results were," she said.

"Nothing, not one thing was symmetrical.

"I had loose skin still, which I paid to be removed, I've still got bingo wings that are more obvious because I've got horrible scars."

She said the clinic in Turkey had refused to refund her money and the firm has yet to reply to BBC requests for a response.

Aenone Harper-Marchin, a member of the British Association of Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS), said the scarring on Ms Mattson's body was typical of commercial plastic surgery that has been offered abroad.

"Not to say that there aren't excellent plastic surgeons who do a fantastic job in other parts of the world but the regret of the surgery knowing there's no ability to come back from that constructive or reconstructive procedure is common," she said.

Ms Harper-Marchin said people were often attracted to surgery abroad due to the price.

"There is a very hard sell from these companies," she said.

"Patients are told that their surgeons are certified, but where we're seeing problems is that these people are not actually board-certified plastic surgeons.

"The NHS is seeing an increasing number of people requiring emergency care for these surgeries performed abroad."

Ms Mattson is now documenting her experience on Instagram, to sway people away from seeking cosmetic surgeries packaged as holidays.

"Before the actual operation, I had a reason to have loose skin, it was almost like a medal - like I'd gone through such a journey losing weight.

"I never expected this to happen to me.

"Companies draw you in, and they make these packages look like a dream holiday, but it's not. It's surgery, it's serious and it's so hard to take legal action [because it's not in the UK].

"I put off putting a deposit on a house for this because me and my partner agreed I'd gone through such a big journey to lose this weight and I just needed it for my mental health, but obviously I can't turn back time, it's horrific."

• Choose your own surgeon "without the pressure of price"

• Research relevant medical boards and societies specific to the country you are getting the surgery

• Confirm the clinic and surgeon are registered with their governing body and are approved to perform the surgery

• Translate consent forms into English or your first language so you are aware of what operation is being performed and know the consequences

• Ask to see before and after photographs of a surgeon's previous work

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, advice is available from the BBC Action Line.

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