Chasing perfection: why South Africans are betting their lives on bargain cosmetic procedures abroad
Image: Pixabay/pexels
We've all seen the glossy before-and-afters on Instagram: a tummy tuck in Turkey, a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL)in Mexico, or a budget-friendly nose job in Thailand often sold as part of a 'surgery holiday' package.
But behind these airbrushed posts lies a sobering truth: the growing wave of medical tourism for cosmetic procedures is costing people far more than they bargained for, sometimes, even their lives.
Between 2009 and 2022, 93 US citizens died in the Dominican Republic following cosmetic surgery, mainly due to fat embolisms, according to CDC data.
In Turkey, at least 28 British nationals have lost their lives since 2019 from complications after cosmetic procedures. And those are just the reported deaths. So, what's happening behind the scenes of these so-called beauty bargains?
And why are South Africans increasingly drawn to foreign clinics despite having top-tier surgeons at home?
We spoke to Professor Chrysis Sofianos, one of South Africa's leading plastic and reconstructive surgeons, who is sounding the alarm: 'These aren't isolated tragedies; they're symptoms of a much bigger, dangerous trend.'
The red flags we ignore
Many patients travel abroad hoping to save money or chase the results they've seen on influencers.
But what social media doesn't show is the rushed consultations, language barriers, lack of follow-up care and the sometimes illegal activity that happens under the knife.
Sofianos says, 'There have been reports of patients returning from surgery in Turkey missing organs, like kidneys, removed and likely sold on the black market. That's how far this has gone.'
Even when surgeries go 'well', complications can arise: delayed wound healing, infections, seromas, implant malposition, or worse.
Many patients travel abroad hoping to save money or chase the results they've seen on influencers.
Image: X/TakaThimna
These risks are amplified when you're on a plane two days later or recovering in an unlicensed hotel with no medical staff on standby.
The real cost of 'cheap'
While a Brazilian Butt Lift might cost R40 000 abroad versus R90 000 locally, Sofianos says, "Patients don't factor in emergency revisions, hospitalisation, or specialist consultations.
'These procedures aren't actually cheap in the long run. Patients often end up paying more to fix botched procedures at home,' he explains. 'I've had to perform revision surgeries, drain fluid build-ups, and treat life-threatening infections, all from complications that could've been avoided with proper care.'
To make matters worse, most medical aid schemes won't cover complications from elective overseas procedures, leaving patients with the full bill and often emotional trauma.
What you're not paying for overseas?
The upfront price tag may seem enticing, but overseas clinics often cut costs by rushing pre-op assessments, packing multiple surgeries into a single day, and offering minimal post-op care. Safety is sacrificed for volume.
'In South Africa, plastic surgeons go through more than a decade of rigorous training, much of it in high-pressure trauma and burn units,' Sofianos explains.
'We're not just cosmetic doctors, we're surgeons trained to handle complex, life-threatening cases.'
He adds that local pricing reflects this comprehensive journey: hospital-grade anaesthesia, sterile theatres, certified teams, and personal aftercare. 'It's not just about the hour in the operating room, it's about the whole process, start to finish.'
Influencer illusions: The role of social media
Many people are swayed by filtered images and sponsored posts, where influencers glamorise their 'surgery journeys' abroad.
'But what you don't see are the complications, the regret, the revisions, and the silent suffering,' Sofianos warns
Some influencers are paid either in cash or surgery discounts to promote foreign clinics.
This marketing often blurs the line between lifestyle content and medical advice, which can be dangerous.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TimesLIVE
3 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Mass vaccination against bird flu to start soon: Steenhuisen
South Africa will soon embark on its first-ever vaccination of poultry as a proactive measure to minimise the risk of bird flu outbreaks, agriculture minister John Steenhuisen said on Tuesday. This follows the department of agriculture's issuance of a vaccination permit to Astral Foods on Monday, authorising the company to begin vaccinating against the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus at one of its broiler breeder farms. The department said the vaccination campaign will begin with 200,000 broiler breeders, representing about 5% of Astral's total breeding stock, valued at an estimated R35m. Steenhuisen welcomed this milestone as a testament to the strong partnership between government and the poultry industry in safeguarding national food security and protecting the livelihoods of thousands of South Africans. The vaccination campaign was a vital step to strengthen flock immunity and prevent the devastating economic losses witnessed during previous outbreaks, Steenhuisen said. The 2023 outbreak resulted in millions of birds being culled, which led to severe supply disruptions that affected both producers and consumers. He said the vaccine being used, targeting the H5 strain of the virus, was already approved for use in other countries implementing vaccination strategies against HPAI.
The Citizen
4 hours ago
- The Citizen
Foreign nationals turned away at Addington Hospital as activist group demands SA-first healthcare
FOREIGN nationals and those who could not prove that they are South African were turned away at the gates of Addington Hospital Gateway Clinic today as members of the March and March movement manned the entry to the government facility, demanding priority healthcare for citizens. 'We are not xenophobic, we just want South Africans to be put first in the queue for services. We are fighting for our nation and citizens. Those who cannot stand up for themselves,' said March and March deputy chairperson, Lindani Xulu. The members of March and March were at the gates of the hospital from 06:00 and vowed to stay until late. Its chairperson, Teresa Nortje, said that the aim is to enforce the laws of South Africa which are being 'flouted by foreign nationals' who come to the clinic. 'We are enforcing Section 17 of the South African Constitution, where it stipulates that when you want to use the clinic, you need to be a South African citizen and a valid taxpayer,' said Nortje. She said Addington Hospital Gateway Clinic and RK Khan Hospital in Chatsworth were selected by the organisation as the start of this campaign because they are hotspots for foreign nationals. 'We are taking a stand here today, and letting foreign nationals know, that we are tired and cannot stand this anymore. We (South Africans) are paying for them to get healthcare while citizens suffer,' said Nortje while standing outside the Addington Hospital. Also Read: Seven passport fraud suspects to appear in Durban court She said, 'Our healthcare professionals are tired and overwhelmed with the amount of work that they have to do at this facility on a daily basis. When you look at the statistics, it show that 95% of the people visiting Addington Hospital are foreigners so that is why we are here today. All we are saying is that take your children and yourselves to a private hospital because you have the medical assistance that is required there. Stop taking the beds and medication that is rightfully there for our South African citizens and not you as a foreigner.' While the Berea Mail was outside the clinic, we observed identity documents (ID) of every person being checked. A few people were turned away, while hospital security remained behind the gates. Sithobile Simelane, who frequents the clinic, said the queues were not as heavy today. 'It was a good experience, it was fast today' said Simelane. 'I normally sit in the queue from 09:00 to 13:00 but today I was in and out within two hours.' A suspected foreign national who tried to argue his way in, was turned away by the group, which demanded his ID. Xulu said, 'This is not the end, it's the start. We will be here every day if we need to be, until the point has been made. South Africa is not a banana republic, we are here fighting for it. This campaign will soon be throughout the province, nationally. Our presence made a difference here today.' For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook , X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
4 hours ago
- The Citizen
‘South Africans first': March and March blocks access to Addington Clinic, checks IDs at gate
FOREIGN nationals and those who could not prove that they are South African were turned away at the gates of Addington Hospital Gateway Clinic today as members of the March and March movement manned the entry to the government facility, demanding priority healthcare for citizens. 'We are not xenophobic, we just want South Africans to be put first in the queue for services. We are fighting for our nation and citizens. Those who cannot stand up for themselves,' said March and March deputy chairperson, Lindani Xulu. The members of March and March were at the gates of the hospital from 06:00 and vowed to stay until late. Its chairperson, Teresa Nortje, said that the aim is to enforce the laws of South Africa which are being 'flouted by foreign nationals' who come to the clinic. 'We are enforcing Section 17 of the South African Constitution, where it stipulates that when you want to use the clinic, you need to be a South African citizen and a valid taxpayer,' said Nortje. She said Addington Hospital Gateway Clinic and RK Khan Hospital in Chatsworth were selected by the organisation as the start of this campaign because they are hotspots for foreign nationals. 'We are taking a stand here today, and letting foreign nationals know, that we are tired and cannot stand this anymore. We (South Africans) are paying for them to get healthcare while citizens suffer,' said Nortje while standing outside the Addington Hospital. Also Read: Seven passport fraud suspects to appear in Durban court She said, 'Our healthcare professionals are tired and overwhelmed with the amount of work that they have to do at this facility on a daily basis. When you look at the statistics, it show that 95% of the people visiting Addington Hospital are foreigners so that is why we are here today. All we are saying is that take your children and yourselves to a private hospital because you have the medical assistance that is required there. Stop taking the beds and medication that is rightfully there for our South African citizens and not you as a foreigner.' While the Berea Mail was outside the clinic, we observed identity documents (ID) of every person being checked. A few people were turned away, while hospital security remained behind the gates. Sithobile Simelane, who frequents the clinic, said the queues were not as heavy today. 'It was a good experience, it was fast today' said Simelane. 'I normally sit in the queue from 09:00 to 13:00 but today I was in and out within two hours.' A suspected foreign national who tried to argue his way in, was turned away by the group, which demanded his ID. Xulu said, 'This is not the end, it's the start. We will be here every day if we need to be, until the point has been made. South Africa is not a banana republic, we are here fighting for it. This campaign will soon be throughout the province, nationally. Our presence made a difference here today. For more from Northglen News, follow us on Facebook , X or Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
