The mother of a British woman who died after travelling to Turkey to undergo cosmetic surgery has spoken out, saying her daughter wasn’t aware of ‘all of the risks’.

In October last year, 38-year-old Hayley Dowell travelled to BHT Clinic in Istanbul to undergo a a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), liposuction, and a tummy tuck. The three procedures cost her a total of over £7,000.

However Hayley, originally from Eastleigh, Hampshire, suffered complications during her surgery, and passed away at ‘around midnight’ on 3 October after suffering an embolism – a fatal complication which can occur after surgery.

Hayley isn’t the first British national to die from medical tourism in Turkey, with the UK government aware of 28 other individuals who had passed away. Figures from the Foreign Office website estimate that six Brits died in Turkey after having surgery in 2023 alone.

It’s also understood that several others have experienced complications from their surgery.

A preliminary inquest into Hayley’s death is currently ongoing, with her mother Ann telling Winchester Coroner’s Court that her daughter ‘would not have known the risks’ of one of the operations, as she allegedly didn’t consent to all three.

These claims are backed up by Hayley’s husband Neil Dowell, who had travelled out with her to Istanbul last October. However, it has not been revealed which of the three surgeries she didn’t consent to.

“There was not any risk outlined to her,” he claimed during the preliminary hearing.

“It should have been a-six hour operation but it wound down to one hour 45 [minutes]. The surgeon left halfway through the operation and left the anaesthetist to do the job. You can’t do both at the same time.”

A preliminary inquest into her death is currently ongoing (Facebook)

The court also heard that Neil was allegedly asked by the clinic to sign the final consent form after Hayley’s death.

A full inquest into Hayley’s death will begin in January, with coroner Nicholas Walker also suggesting that he will be writing a Prevention of Future Deaths report amid the growing number of deaths happening due to medical tourism.

Travel to Turkey to undergo medical procedures ranging from veneers, hair transplants, and more invasive operations such as BBLs has become increasingly popular over the past couple of years.

According to information listed on the website of BHT Clinic, which is where Hayley went for her procedures, the hospital claims they are equipped with ‘the technological infrastructure and equipment’ that only a ‘limited number’ of medical centres in the world have.

BHT Clinic in Istanbul (Google Maps)

The clinic adds that they follow ‘patient and employee safety in international quality standards based on ethical principles’.

BHT Clinic did not send a representative to the preliminary hearing, however, it is currently unclear as to whether or not they will be required to give evidence in the new year.