Woman ‘almost died’ after spleen was butchered in cut-price weight-loss Turkey op – now even a minor cold could kill her
A WOMAN almost died after she was butchered in cut-price weight-loss Turkey.
Leanne O’Driscoll is warning others against the surgery that has left her needing antibiotics for the rest of her life.
The mum-of-three had reached “breaking point” with her weight after trying numerous diets.
She was 16st 10lbs at her heaviest and decided she wanted to make a drastic change.
The 43-year-old researched her options but discovered that although weight loss surgery was available in her native Ireland, there was a 10-year waiting list.
Eager to start her new life, she found a cheaper alternative, £2,400, in Turkey – and the operation was available immediately.
But what had been a dream quickly turned into a nightmare, with the procedure leaving her body “vomiting blood” and “wracked with pain”.
“I feared the worst, but the nurses kept telling me it was normal,” she said.
One week after the operation, she said, she had finally recovered enough to go home but was hit again with illness on the flight.
When she got home, she said, “I was shivering cold, and before I went to bed, I collapsed and fell unconscious.”
What are the risks of getting surgery abroad?
It's important to do your research if you're thinking about having cosmetic surgery abroad.
It can cost less than in the UK, but you need to weigh up potential savings against the potential risks.
Safety standards in different countries may not be as high.
No surgery is risk-free. Complications can happen after surgery in the UK or abroad.
If you have complications after an operation in the UK, the surgeon is responsible for providing follow-up treatment.
Overseas clinics may not provide follow-up treatment, or they may not provide it to the same standard as in the UK.
Also, they may not have a healthcare professional in the UK you can visit if you have any problems.
Source: NHS
Assuming she was dehydrated, she called her sister after regaining consciousness to get some water.
But when her sister climbed the stairs, she saw Leanne on the floor.
“My sister screamed to ring for an ambulance. Once again, I slipped into unconsciousness.”
At the hospital, scans revealed that her spleen had been damaged during the procedure, and her body had entered septic shock – a life-threatening drop in blood pressure following an infection.
Due to the internal bleeding, the 43-year-old had to receive 11 pints of blood in an emergency transfusion.
Sadly, doctors were unable to save her spleen, and it had to be removed.
After one week, Leanne could go back home – and while recovering, the weight was “rapidly” falling off.
Leanne said: “I looked like a skeleton, and my colleagues struggled to recognise me. One told me they had no idea who I was
“I felt like a shell of myself, and my hunger was all over the place.
“Emotionally, I wanted to eat, but my body kept telling me I couldn’t.”
Now, she’s sharing her harrowing ordeal to warn others against the surgery – especially as it’s her “biggest regret” in life.
She added: “I wish I’d never had the operation.
“I’ll be on antibiotics for the rest of my life, something which I almost lost, because I have no immunity anymore. Even a minor infection could kill me.
“I’m lucky to be alive – don’t make the same mistake as me.”
In Turkey, gastric bypass surgery can cost as little as £3,000 — far less than £8,000 it costs privately in the UK, with similar prices in Ireland.
While many are attracted by the low prices and seemingly quick turnarounds to have procedures in
Leanne’s case comes after the tragic death of a 20-year-old British woman following botched surgery in Turkey.
Morgan Ribeiro flew to the country to undergo a gastric sleeve operation after suffering years of bullying about her weight.
She died from complications in a Serbian hospital after her return flight to Britain had to make an emergency landing in Belgrade when she became severely unwell.
Tragically, recent statistics suggest that at least 25 Britons have died following cosmetic surgery abroad since 2019.
How to lose weight without surgery
There are various other ways to lose weight without going under the knife.
According to the NHS, to get the best possible start on its weight loss plan, there are seven steps you should follow.
- Get active for 150 minutes a week – you can break this up into shorter sessions
- Aim to get your 5 A Day – 80g of fresh, canned or frozen fruit or vegetables count as 1 portion
- Aim to lose 1 to 2lbs, or 0.5 to 1kg, a week
- Read food labels – products with more green colour coding than amber and red are often a healthier option
- Swap sugary drinks for water – if you do not like the taste, add slices of lemon or lime for flavour
- Cut down on food that’s high in sugar and fat – start by swapping sugary cereal for wholegrain alternatives
- Share your weight loss plan with someone you trust – they can help motivate you when you have a bad day
What is gastric bypass surgery and how does it work?
Gastric bypass surgery is one of the most common weight loss procedures in the world.
It’s often performed on those for whom other forms of weight loss, such as diet and exercise, have not worked.
It is available on the NHS for people with a BMI of more than 40 or for those with a BMI of more than 35 who also have a serious weight-related health condition.
During the procedure, staples create a small pouch at the top of the stomach.
The pouch is then connected to your small intestine, missing out (bypassing) the rest of the stomach.
This means that less food is needed to make you feel full, and you’ll absorb fewer calories from the food you eat.
Patients must stick to a strict diet and exercise plan after the operation.
Many people find that they are left with folds of skin that have weakened after they lose weight, which can require further surgery to correct.
Gastric bypass surgery also comes with many potentially fatal risks, including internal bleeding and blood clots, according to the NHS.
One in 500 gastric bypass surgery patients dies shortly after surgery.
Up to 7,000 Britons have bariatric surgery – the collective term for gastric band and other weight-loss operations – every year.