Travel advice issued for medical tourists planning trip to Turkey for weight loss surgery over botulism fears

Fears over an outbreak of botulism has prompted updated advice for anyone travelling to Turkey for weight loss surgery. A medical tourist is someone who travels to a country for medical, surgical or dental treatment.

Turkey is a common destination for ‘medical tourists’ to receive cosmetic procedures.However, the standard of medical facilities and available treatments vary widely around the world.

The UK has issued a warning to those planning a trip to Turkey for medical procedures, with updated advice saying officials are aware of 22 British nationals who have died in the country since January 2019 following medical tourism visits. The government says there are reports of an outbreak of botulism cases linked to weight loss treatments performed in Istanbul and Izmir in February 2023.