Beauty gone wrong: Hyderabad hit by spike in failed Turkey cosmetic surgeries

Source: Pexel

A growing number of Hyderabad residents are seeking medical help after returning from Turkey with cosmetic surgeries gone wrong, according to dermatologists and plastic surgeons in the city. TOI cited doctors as saying that there has been a notable uptick in the number of ‘revision cases’ following procedures such as hair transplants, facelifts, rhinoplasty and tummy tucks performed abroad, particularly in Turkey.

Post-pandemic, Turkey has become a popular destination for affordable aesthetic treatments, with many clinics offering attractive cosmetic packages tailored for international patients, including those from India. For Hyderabadis used to paying upwards of Rs 7 lakh to Rs 15 lakh for these procedures in the US or Europe, Turkey’s price tag of Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, sometimes bundled with a holiday, has proven irresistible. Indian clinics charge similar amounts, but the prospect of combining surgery with a vacation abroad is fuelling the trend.

However, the outcomes are far from ideal for many, as highlighted by TOI in its report. Dr Rajetha Damisetty, a Hyderabad-based dermatologist, recalled how a 33-year-old man from Gachibowli developed a severe scalp infection and graft loss after a hair transplant in Istanbul. In another incident, Dr D Akshita Rao, a plastic surgeon, treated a 49-year-old woman who returned from Turkey with facial asymmetry and a scalp infection caused by a forgotten stitch following an eyebrow and cheek lift, resulting in long-term trauma.

Dr Kiran Banda, a consultant plastic surgeon at a city hospital, attributed the problem to lack of oversight in Turkish clinics, telling TOI that “they are often performed by under-qualified technicians rather than certified doctors.” Banda and others also noted that patients frequently report poor aftercare following their procedures abroad.

Social media’s influence is also at play, with influencer content showcasing dramatic before-and-after transformations from Turkish clinics fuelling demand for such procedures. Yet the risks and complications rarely make it to online feeds. “Influencer posts showcasing dramatic before-after results from Turkey make it seem easy. But we rarely hear about the complications,” Dr Damisetty was cited by TOI, who advised Indians to prioritise “quality and safety over price and trend.”

Locally, Hyderabad’s dermatologists are also grappling with another crisis: a spate of skin complications arising from treatments performed by unqualified individuals. As reported earlier by TOI, these include beauticians and practitioners from various fields such as dentistry, Ayurveda, homoeopathy, naturopathy and Unani, as well as those holding unrecognised or overseas qualifications.

Cases registered by the Telangana Medical Council (TGMC) reveal the extent of quackery, eight fake doctors were found practising without the right registration, while 18 cosmetic surgeons received notices this year to furnish their credentials.

Procedures such as lasers, chemical peels, botox and fillers performed by these unauthorised practitioners have resulted in an increase in burns, scars, dead tissue, nerve damage and even disfigured skin, city doctors claim. The use of topical steroids for short-term results has, according to experts, left some patients with irreversible complications over recent years, TOI reported.

TGMC vice-chairman G Srinivas highlighted the ongoing challenge of quackery in dermatology, pointing out that “Ayurveda, homoeopathy and dentist graduates are also practising it unethically and illegally.” The council is reportedly ramping up awareness and advocacy programmes, pushing for legal reforms and greater vigilance against unqualified practitioners.