British Woman Dies After Gastric Sleeve Surgery in Turkey

Janet Savage suffered fatal complications during a weight-loss procedure, as an inquest reveals a major artery trauma led to her death.

Janet Savage, a 54-year-old driving examiner from Wales, traveled to Turkey for a gastric sleeve surgery and died due to acute blood loss from an injured abdominal aorta.
The surgery was arranged through Regenesis Health Travel, a UK-based health tourism firm, which organized the procedure at Ozel Rich hospital in Antalya.
Savage, who had been taking the weight-loss drug Ozempic, sought the surgery to lose three stone but faced complications shortly after the procedure began.
A defect in Savage's aorta was discovered during the operation, leading to severe bleeding; despite repair attempts, she went into cardiac arrest and died in intensive care.
The case highlights concerns over medical tourism, with at least 28 British nationals reportedly dying after undergoing cosmetic procedures in Turkey since 2019.