Patient safety concerns raised over growing ‘cosmetic tourism’ trend

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Laura Boyce image

A warning about the risks of ‘cosmetic tourism’ – when people travel abroad to access surgical and cosmetic procedures – has been issued by our organisation.

Our warning of the possible dangers associated with travelling abroad for treatments comes amidst a growing number of events across Scotland, inviting people to sign up for treatments abroad.

These information days are increasingly being held in hotels and venues across the country, offering treatments including hair transplants and aesthetic and weight loss surgeries in countries such as Turkey, Brazil and Thailand.

Laura Boyce, our Chief Inspector of Regulation, said:

“Our advice to the public is to avoid engaging in health tourism as evidence consistently shows increased risks of complications, when medical procedures are undertaken in countries and settings with variable clinical standards and limited post‑operative follow‑up.

“We urge anyone looking to get cosmetic interventions to think about their health and wellbeing and seek their care from a regulated provider.

“Clinics registered and regulated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland can be found on our website and patients can use this information to support their decision making in finding a quality assured service.”

People travelling abroad for cosmetic or surgical procedures face a number of risks including:

  • higher rates of infection and postoperative complications
  • variable clinical standards compared with requirements in Scotland
  • limited or no continuity of care, particularly where complications emerge after travel
  • increased burden on NHS Scotland when individuals return requiring urgent corrective or emergency care

These risks reinforce the importance of ensuring that treatment, particularly those involving injectables, invasive non‑surgical procedures, or procedures carrying higher complication of risks, are accessed through regulated and registered providers within Scotland. 

There are over 500 registered and regulated clinics across Scotland on our website, the vast majority providing cosmetic procedures.