TikTok influencers to warn against Brazilian butt lift dangers
Ministers said it would help the public make 'more informed choices before they go under the knife' in a foreign country.
In recent years, there has been a surge in the number of British people travelling to countries such as Turkey for hair transplants, dental work and other operations.
But the NHS has warned that it has been left to 'pick up the pieces' of botched butt lifts and other mishaps when people return to the UK.
Foreign Office data show that 28 British people have died in Turkey after travelling abroad for medical procedures since 2019.
The cost to NHS hospitals dealing with complications caused by foreign cosmetic procedures is estimated to be more than £1m annually.
The procedure known as a BBL is the fastest-growing cosmetic surgery operation, but also one of the most dangerous.
Prof Sir Stephen Powis, the former NHS national medical director, has previously said: 'The NHS will always be there for those who need it, but should not be left to pick up the pieces of botched BBLs.'
The Government will use social media influencers to highlight the risks of travelling abroad for cosmetic procedures.
It is working with medical influencers such as Midwife Marley and Doc Tally to create videos showing the risks of cosmetic surgery abroad.
The content will urge patients to speak to a UK doctor first and avoid package holidays that include procedures.
It will also include a checklist for patients to consider before they book a procedure, which includes checking the credentials of surgeons, the clinic's regulations, and understanding the aftercare.
The initiative is part of a wider government drive to tackle medical tourism and ensure the NHS is not left to foot the bill when complications arise.
Karin Smyth, a health minister, said: 'Too many people are being left with life-altering injuries after going abroad for medical procedures, without access to proper advice or safeguards, often drawn in by deals too good to be true and promoted by influencers – some of whom have never been to the practice in question.
'By partnering with TikTok, we're helping people make safer, more informed choices before they go under the knife – wherever that may be.'
Stephen Doughty, a Foreign Office minister, said the campaign would 'explain the risks and help British people understand the actions they can take to keep themselves safe when abroad'.
'We urge anyone considering a medical procedure abroad to review our travel advice, relevant guidance from the NHS and other professional bodies, and research foreign providers thoroughly to ensure they meet the highest standard of care,' he added.
The initiative comes after ministers outlined plans to cut down on 'cowboy' cosmetic procedures in the UK by introducing new restrictions.
In 2024, Demi Agoglia, a 26-year-old mother of three from Salford, Greater Manchester, died from a microscopic fat embolism after a BBL in Istanbul.
An inquest heard she was said to be 'conscious about the way she looked' and insisted on undergoing the BBL procedure.
In 2023, Hayley Dowell, 38, died in Turkey after a surgeon left halfway through an operation.
She suffered medical complications at a private clinic after she had the procedure along with a tummy tuck and liposuction as part of a package that cost more than £7,000.
In 2022, Melissa Kerr, 31, from Denton, Norfolk, died following a BBL in private hospital in Istanbul.
An inquest heard she was only given 'limited information regarding the risks and mortality rate' associated with the procedure.
The Department of Health unveiled proposals which include only allowing 'suitably qualified' and Care Quality Commission-regulated health workers to deliver high-risk procedures such as BBLs.
Clinics offering Botox and fillers will need licences, and age restrictions will be introduced to prevent children from trying to follow 'dangerous beauty trends on social media'. Those who break the rules will face sanctions, including financial penalties, officials said.
In July, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute warned that fat injections, BBLs, Botox and fillers were being offered by untrained people in places such as public toilets.
There have also been concerns about rising numbers of people poisoned by fake Botox, leaving consumers struggling with breathing and swallowing problems, and slurred speech, after suffering from botulism.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
29 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Andrew Flintoff backs campaign to increase helipads at hospitals
In December 2022, Flintoff sustained severe injuries while filming at the Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey for an episode of BBC show Top Gear. The former international cricketer was airlifted to St George's Hospital in Tooting – a major trauma centre. The helipad at the hospital was funded by a campaign with the Helicopter Emergency Landing Pads (Help) Appeal. As he backed the campaign, Flintoff said: 'When I was airlifted, that helipad wasn't just a safe spot to land on the hospital roof, it was a vital step in giving me a second chance as I had immediate access to the specialist care which helped saved my life. 'As every cricket pitch has a wicket, every hospital that needs one should have a helipad.' St George's Hospital helipad, where Andrew Flintoff landed after his accident, was funded by a charity called the Help Appeal (Help Appeal/PA) The Help Appeal said that there have been 30,000 landings on the 32 NHS hospital helipads funded by the charity across the country. It has also funded 23 major upgrades at other hospital helipads. The charity is aiming to fund 40 new and upgraded helipads. Robert Bertram, chief executive of the Help Appeal, said: 'We are incredibly grateful to have Freddie's support, especially knowing that his life was saved thanks, in part, to a Help Appeal-funded helipad. His story highlights exactly why the charity's work is so vital – seconds count in a medical emergency and that helipad made all the difference. 'Freddie's backing brings invaluable awareness to the importance of rapid access to emergency care for everyone, everywhere.' Andrew Flintoff signs autographs for fans after a match in The Hundred Men's series, where he coaches the Northern Superchargers (John Walton/PA) Sir Keith Porter, emeritus professor of clinical traumatology at the University of Birmingham, said the charity plays a 'crucial part' in getting patients to the right hospital at the right time. He added: 'Helicopter Emergency Medical Services have the ability to deliver critical care teams at or close to the side of a patient and then to transport them to the most appropriate hospital for their clinical needs, in the case of injury, usually a major trauma centre. 'Minutes count, particularly for patients with life-threatening bleeding, where the extra journey time can make the difference between life and death. The Aintree hospital helipad (Help Appeal/PA) 'The Help Appeal, by funding on-site helipads, helps facilitate the prompt delivery of patients directly into the emergency department with a trolley-push from the landing site.' Flintoff also recently visited the NHS staff who cared for him after the accident at St George's Hospital. He praised health workers in the NHS as 'superheroes' and described the aftermath of the crash as the 'the lowest I've ever been'. The 47-year-old praised the 'expertise, love and compassion' shown by staff at the hospital during his time of need. Flintoff praised the 'superhero' NHS staff who looked after him after the crash (St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) During a documentary about the accident, Flintoff described how he used the split-second decision-making from his cricketing days to try to reduce the impact of the crash. He said he was 'pulled face-down on the runway' for about 50 metres under the car. The former England star said he thought he had died in the accident. For months after the crash, Flintoff disappeared from public view and would leave his house only for medical appointments His recovery has been documented in a documentary, Flintoff, streamed on Disney+.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
New skills needed for driving theory test and when exam will change
The new questions will be rolling out from early 2026, with official guides and learning material already updated The DVSA has revealed that the driving theory test will now include questions on CPR and defibrillator use. The department hopes this move will educate millions each year in these life-saving skills, thereby increasing survival rates from cardiac arrest and easing pressure on the NHS. For those feeling nervous about the new additions to the test, we sought clarification from the Resuscitation Council, the leading healthcare charity responsible for setting CPR guidelines. The organisation confirmed that the questions will focus on basic CPR and defibrillator use and will only be added to the car and motorcycle theory test in early 2026. According to the organisation, effective CPR skills can be learned or self-taught in less than 15 minutes. This gives future drivers ample time to acquire these new required skills before the rules come into effect. Official learning materials have already been updated, so those wishing to study can utilise the Official DVSA Guide to Driving or the new Resuscitation Council hub, which offers free training resources. Updates to motorcycle publications are expected to follow shortly. The new questions will be entirely theory-based and set by the DVSA, meaning learners won't need to physically demonstrate their skills in a practical manner. The DVSA won't reveal the precise questions learners will face, but has provided some examples. This includes a multiple-choice question about who can operate a public access defibrillator, also known as an AED. The options range from paramedics only to first aiders only, doctors only, and everyone. The organisation explained that this change is being implemented now in hopes that the 2.4 million people sitting their theory test annually will acquire life-saving skills before taking to the roads. According to the Resuscitation Council, 41% of the UK population has received CPR training within the past decade. In the UK, over 40,000 people experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest annually, with fewer than one in 10 surviving - but if CPR is administered and a defibrillator deployed within three to five minutes of collapse, survival rates could reach as high as 70%. CEO of Resuscitation Council UK, James Cant, said: "We're delighted to be working with the DVSA and other partners to introduce CPR and defibrillator awareness into the driving theory test. "By embedding these life-saving skills into such a widely taken assessment, we can help ensure that more people, from all communities, gain the knowledge and confidence to act during a cardiac arrest." Recent research from the European Resuscitation Council discovered that 44% of European countries mandate citizens to undergo basic life support courses for certain driving licences. This includes CPR and defibrillator awareness.
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
NHS to pilot AI prostate cancer tests
An AI tool to spot prostate cancer earlier is being piloted by the NHS. The two-year scheme involving more than 3,000 men aims to speed up diagnosis of the disease, which is the most common form of cancer in men. Every year around 55,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer and 12,000 die from it. But just half of cases are caught at an early stage, when treatment is most effective. Trials suggest the technology can help radiologists detect around 11 per cent more early-stage cancers by highlighting suspicious regions in MRI scans. The software by Quibim uses advanced AI, trained on real pathology results, to segment the prostate into zones and highlight areas most likely to contain aggressive disease. The two-year pilot, backed by £2.6 million in NHS funding, will be rolled out to seven hospitals in England. Clinical trials suggest it can raise detection rates from 80 per cent to more than 90 per cent. Early detection dramatically improves survival rates. Almost all men who are diagnosed with stage one or two of the disease are alive five years later, compared with rates of less than 50 per cent for those with late-stage disease. As well as looking at detection rates, the pilot will examine the cost-effectiveness of the approach to see if the NHS can save money by catching the disease sooner. It will also examine the impact on inequalities in heath, with black men twice as likely to get prostate cancer. Prof Peter Johnson, national clinical director for cancer at NHS England, said: 'The NHS is funding and testing this exciting AI technology to help us diagnose and treat prostate cancer patients as quickly as possible and offer them the best chance of survival. 'As part of the 10-Year Health Plan, the NHS is taking advantage of our unique position to test state-of-the-art technology like this, and rolling it out as fast as we can to make the NHS fit for the future.' Dr. Ángel Alberich-Bayarri, chief executive of Quibim said: 'This NHS rollout is a major milestone in our mission to improve cancer diagnostics through AI. 'We're proud to support the NHS in advancing early detection and addressing health inequalities in prostate cancer care. By empowering radiologists with AI, we can help ensure more men are diagnosed earlier, when their chances of survival are highest.' Screening could cut deaths by 40 per cent The findings come as The Telegraph launches a campaign calling for the introduction of targeted screening for prostate cancer. Currently, men are not offered tests, even if they have a family history of the disease. Experts believe there is a growing case for targeted screening, meaning that PSA blood tests would be offered to those at heightened risk of the disease. Even though prostate cancer is the most-common male cancer in the UK, it is the only major cancer with no screening programme. The UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC) is currently considering whether to recommend the rollout of testing. In the past, it has rejected the idea because of concern that PSA tests are too unreliable, and would result in too many men undergoing needless procedures. In recent years, however, the back-up technology used to confirm a diagnosis has significantly improved, with hopes that further advances being tested, could mean that in the future, screening could cut deaths by 40 per cent. Prof Shonit Punwani, Professor of magnetic resonance and cancer imaging and consultant radiologist at UCLH, said: 'Initial studies have shown that the tool helps radiologists to enhance their diagnostic accuracy through identifying subtle early stage lesions that are sometimes not obvious on scans. 'Ultimately, QP-Prostate aims to improve patient outcomes by assisting radiologists in creating more accurate and reliable MRI reports.'
