Brit mum who died after BBL in Turkey was given ‘minutes’ to determine if she needed it
A Brit mum who died following a series of cosmetic procedures in Turkey was given just five minutes to decide whether she wanted a BBL as a member of staff held machine in front of her, claims her husband
Hayley Dowell tragically died after the cosmetic surgery(Image: Facebook)
A tragic inquest has detailed the final moments of a 38-year-old British mother who died following cosmetic procedures in Turkey after being presented with a high-pressure, last-minute offer just minutes before entering the operating room.
Hayley Dowell, a mother of three from Eastleigh, Hampshire, had flown to Istanbul alongside her husband, Neil Dowell, having booked a procedure package that exceeded £7,000. Her original plan was solely to undergo a tummy tuck and 360-degree liposuction.
However, roughly 10 minutes before she was scheduled to go under the knife at the BHT Clinic on October 2, 2023, her surgeon proposed an add-on: using the fat extracted during liposuction to enhance her bottom, which he remarked was “a little flat”.
Her original plan was solely to undergo a tummy tuck and 360-degree liposuction(Image: FACEBOOK)
The high-pressure offer came with a tight deadline and a discounted rate. Rather than the standard £2,500 cost for a Brazilian butt-lift (BBL), the price was slashed to £1,500, reports the Mirror.
Recalling the overwhelming rushed decision, Mr Dowell explained that he initially believed the surgeon was making the suggestion “off his own back”, before a staff member arrived with a card machine to collect payment. The couple were given a mere five-minute window to weigh the choice.
Mr Dowell explained: “She was very embarrassed of her body. We just assumed he was going to use fat from the lipo. She was excited about it. They deducted £1,000 from the procedure because she was already having the other procedure.
10 minutes before she was scheduled to go under the knife her surgeon proposed a BBL(Image: FACEBOOK)
“We had five minutes to decide that. We are trying to sort it out. Checking our banks, saying you pay half and I will pay half. It was so quick. We had to make a quick decision. She was going down in 10 minutes after the woman left with the card machine. The surgeon never came back in. They came in with anaesthetic to make her a bit drowsy, and they took her away.”
Mr Dowell testified that he never witnessed his wife sign a consent document for the BBL, nor were the severe health risks associated with the procedure explained to her by the Turkish clinic’s medical team. Although the surgeon had signed the BBL consent form that morning, Mrs Dowell only verbally agreed to the extra surgery at approximately 3pm that afternoon.
A BBL involves transferring fat harvested from one part of the body back into the buttocks. Pathologists in Turkey, whose findings were corroborated by UK authorities, determined that Mrs Dowell died from a fatal micro fat embolism caused by the liposuction procedure – a complication where fat enters the bloodstream and blocks blood flow to critical organs like the lungs.
Hayley Dowell paid more than £7,000 for the procedures at the BHT Clinic in Istanbul
Prior to travelling, Mrs Dowell had previously undergone two successful breast augmentations within the UK. Described by her husband as a “healthy” and “energetic” person who suffered from asthma, she had grown increasingly self-conscious about her appearance after having her children.
He said: “After three children she wanted a flat stomach, and she was always concerned about the weight, so she wanted to trim herself down a bit.”
When asked why she sought treatment abroad despite his reservations, Mr Dowell noted the influence of social trends and cost considerations. “I think it was more of a trend and obviously the finance situation,” he said.
“I think so many people do it and it was something Hayley wanted to do. Friends of hers had done it and had told stories about certain procedures, and she just went for it.”
Though Mr Dowell remained uneasy about going overseas, his wife had spent four to five years researching the move. He added: “I didn’t trust it abroad, I thought it should have been the UK, but she was very persistent. She wanted that procedure, and she had done her research. She looked at the surgeon in Turkey, and that was good enough for her.”
She booked the procedures through Qunomedical, an online medical tourism service that gathered photos of her body and paired her with the Turkish clinic. The couple arrived on October 1, 2023, signing initial paperwork for the planned liposuction and tummy tuck shortly after landing. Mr Dowell noted his wife only viewed that original agreement for about 15 minutes.
Timeline of the tragedy
- October 1, 2023: Arrived in Turkey, completed initial paperwork and blood work for tummy tuck and liposuction
- October 2, 6am: Picked up and transported to BHT Clinic
- October 2, 2pm: Mr Dowell returned to the clinic after receiving dental treatment elsewhere
- October 2, 3pm: Surgeon suggested adding the BBL; payment collected following a five-minute consideration window; Mrs Dowell taken into surgery 10 minutes later
- October 2, evening: Four hours into the operation, staff told Mr Dowell the surgery was going well
- October 2, 11.59pm: Staff alerted Mr Dowell that his wife was very “unwell” after suffering two cardiac arrests
- October 3, just after midnight: Mrs Dowell passed away
Following her death, Mr Dowell reported the incident to Turkish police. Area Coroner Nicholas Walker stated he intends to issue a prevention of future deaths report based on the findings.
Dr Sophie Chung, CEO of medical broker Qunomedical, testified that her company acted merely as “facilitators”. She confirmed Qunomedical no longer partners with BHT Clinic and has stopped offering BBL procedures altogether.
When questioned why the operating doctor, Dr Salih Basat, remained on their website, she cited an unawareness, suggesting he may have transferred to a different clinic. The BHT Clinic itself declined to provide evidence to the inquest.
Mrs Dowell is believed to be one of six British citizens who lost their lives in 2023 due to cosmetic operations in Turkey. While the country remains popular for cheaper medical care, health officials continue to issue strict warnings.
The inquest remains ongoing.
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