Dr Janak Bechar, a cosmetic and aesthetic surgeon at Kat & Co in Birmingham, has issued a stark warning to travellers considering plastic surgery in South Korea, highlighting the potentially fatal risks of flying home shortly after procedures. The Asian country has become one of the most popular destinations worldwide for surgery, with hopes of welcoming 700,000 medical tourists over a four-year period.
Popular procedures among medical tourists include rhinoplasty, liposuction, and advanced facelifts. However, Dr Bechar cautioned that boarding a long-haul flight within days of such operations can pose a serious health threat.
Flying home 'within days' can be fatal
Dr Bechar explained that the appeal of South Korea is understandable, given the country's talented surgeons and prices that appear incredibly competitive compared to the UK. Yet he emphasised that social media videos often omit the harsh realities of post-surgery recovery.
“What you don't see in those social media videos is the reality of what happens afterwards, a 14-hour flight home in a pressurised cabin while your body is trying to recover from major surgery,” he said. “Flying long-haul after any surgical procedure significantly increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis, blood clots that can form in the legs and travel to the lungs. It can be fatal.”
UK surgeons generally advise patients not to fly for at least 10 to 14 days after surgery, but many individuals travelling to South Korea board their return flight within days of their procedure, according to Dr Bechar.
Package deals raise additional concerns
Another risk highlighted by the Birmingham doctor involves package deals that combine multiple procedures into a single visit. Dr Bechar noted that reputable UK surgeons do not combine six procedures in one sitting, as the body has limits.
“When you are thousands of miles from home, potentially sharing a recovery flat with a stranger you met on the internet, and something goes wrong, the consequences can be catastrophic,” he added. “You are not just far from your surgeon, you are far from your GP, your family and an NHS that knows your medical history.”
The warning comes as South Korea continues to attract record numbers of medical tourists, with the country aiming to capitalise on its reputation for advanced cosmetic surgery. However, Dr Bechar's advice underscores the importance of considering post-operative care and travel risks before committing to overseas procedures.
