Mum of two almost died after waking from ‘Mummy Makeover’ in residing nightmare
Kayleigh Lewis jetted off to Turkey for a £7,300 ‘mummy makeover’ as she was self-conscious about her body after having two sons – but she woke from surgery paralysed and in excruciating pain
A woman concerned about her tummy and ‘droopy’ breasts jetted off to Turkey for a £7,300 ‘mummy makeover’ but nearly lost her life after contracting sepsis.
Kayleigh Lewis, 30, became self-conscious about her figure following the births of her sons Mason, 10, and Keaton, eight. When she spotted an Instagram advertisement from a Turkish surgeon offering ‘mummy makeovers’ – a single operation combining BBL, tummy tuck, liposuction and breast implants – she believed it would ‘eliminate all her insecurities’ in one go.
Kayleigh combined her savings with financial help from her parents to fund the surgery, travelling abroad in April with a friend, four months after booking the seven-hour operation.
However, her dream transformation became a waking nightmare when she regained consciousness at Erdem Hospital in Istanbul, paralysed and in excruciating pain.
She claims medical staff declared her ‘fit to fly’ but she subsequently returned to the UK and later contracted life-threatening sepsis. She endured the following two months in hospital, terrified she might never walk again, reports the Mirror.
The mother now deeply regrets undergoing the procedure and is urging other women to think twice. Kayleigh said: “Don’t do it. It’s not what it’s made out to be. From the moment I woke from the surgery, I wished I hadn’t done it.
“I’ve had two kids and I can’t explain this pain. The first day after surgery, I couldn’t move. I couldn’t even sit up.”
Despite feeling severely ill, unable to walk and with wounds that hadn’t healed, Kayleigh claims she received a ‘fit to fly’ certificate to return to the UK. Kayleigh rang 111 upon her return and was immediately rushed to A&E where examinations confirmed she had developed sepsis – a potentially fatal condition where the body begins attacking its own organs and tissues whilst fighting an infection.
She required surgery to ‘remove’ all the contaminated material – and ended up staying two months at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, Hampshire.
She had to relearn how to walk afterwards and claims she continues to experience back and leg discomfort 17 months later.
A forensic psychology student from Southampton, Hampshire, Kayleigh explained: “I knew there were risks but I thought if I went somewhere certified, nothing bad would happen.
“But as soon as I got out of the surgery I knew something was wrong. I was in so much pain, I wanted to jump out of my own body. After two or three days in recovery, I was still in too much pain to move.
“I went straight to hospital when I got off the plane in the UK – and they found abscesses in my bum which had caused the sepsis, which NHS doctors suspected was from the tools used during the BBL.
“I ended up needing surgery because the infection wasn’t getting better and the infected fat and blood were pressing on nerves and causing me agony.
“The whole thing has been so traumatic. I realise now what you see on social media isn’t always reality.”
Kayleigh discovered surgeon Dr Ayse Kalay through her Instagram advertisements promoting plastic surgery procedures and was instantly drawn in. On 22nd April 2024, she enthusiastically caught her flight alongside friend Kimberley Rowland, 30, who came for emotional support, feeling reassured by the positive testimonials she’d discovered about both Dr Kalay and Erdem Hospital.
However, she subsequently required three blood transfusions due to dangerously low haemoglobin levels and was terrified she might lose the ability to walk permanently. She commenced physiotherapy sessions and gradually progressed from using a walking frame to crutches as her strength returned.
Following her discharge on 10th June, she endured several additional months of rehabilitation. Even now, Kayleigh continues to experience discomfort when seated and requires daily medication for nerve pain.
Dr Ayşe’s medical practice alleges that inadequate communication stemmed from Erdem Hospital’s conduct, claiming Erdem functioned as “an agency” when arranging Kayleigh’s surgical booking.
A spokesperson explained: “Because of that, neither our team nor Dr. Ayşe’s medical staff were ever fully informed about your case details. The agency never maintained proper communication with us at any stage.”
The practice maintains that Kayleigh was never provided with a ‘fit to fly’ clearance and states she wasn’t medically cleared for air travel. They assert the ‘fit to fly’ paperwork Kayleigh received was “simply intended to explain the post-surgical corset” she wore at the airport, in case x-ray security personnel questioned it.
Kayleigh maintains that she was never told not to fly. The medical company insisted that all necessary pre-and post-operative examinations were carried out – “including blood cultures, which are the most critical diagnostic test for detecting sepsis” and that “the results were negative, showing no sign of infection” during Kayleigh’s stay at Erdem Hospital.
The facility maintained that Kayleigh’s mobility difficulties following the procedure stemmed from “a condition that already existed” before the operation. Kayleigh disputes having any previous walking problems and alleges this claim is completely false.
A representative for Erdem Hospital stated: “We are aware of Ms. Kayleigh Lewis’s case and have carefully reviewed both her medical file and all postoperative communication records.
“Erdem Hospital is a fully licensed and internationally accredited healthcare institution that provides medical services under strict ethical and clinical standards. All surgical procedures are performed by qualified specialists and supported by a multidisciplinary aftercare team to ensure patient safety and comfort.
“Following Ms. Lewis’s surgery in April 2024, her postoperative recovery and vital signs were closely monitored. During her stay at our hospital, there were no clinical signs of infection or sepsis, and her condition remained stable. The patient was provided with continuous nursing care, regular medical checks, and support from our aftercare coordination team. All records confirm that she was discharged in a medically appropriate condition and deemed fit to travel based on objective health indicators.
“After returning to the UK, we were informed of her later hospitalisation. We have since reviewed the NHS medical report shared by her family, which does not indicate any confirmed surgical error or malpractice related to the procedure. The report’s notation of “no complication” aligns with our internal findings.
“While we understand that postoperative recovery can be physically and emotionally challenging, our team acted with professionalism, compassion, and in full compliance with medical ethics at all times. Any suggestion of negligence or falsification of records is categorically untrue.
“Family members have been in direct contact with our hospital and have expressed appreciation for the professionalism and support shown by our team during and after Ms. Lewis’s treatment.”
Kayleigh states that the only interaction her friends and family have had with the hospital has been to voice complaints about her treatment, casting doubt on the above point.
The response goes on to say: “We remain open to cooperating with relevant authorities if required, and we stand firmly committed to transparency, patient safety, and the highest standards of medical care.”
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