The $15,000 mistake that almost ruined my face.

Turkey's plastic surgery packages look amazing on TikTok. All-inclusive surgery vacation for half the US price? Sign me up! Except I'm writing this after my third revision surgery to fix what went wrong.

How I fell for it: Beautiful clinic photos, influencer endorsements, and a price that seemed too good to pass up. The coordinator spoke perfect English and promised celebrity-level results.

What actually happened:

🔴 The "luxury" hotel was a dump Photos were clearly from years ago. My room had stained carpets and a broken air conditioner.

🔴 Limited consultation time Met my surgeon for exactly 12 minutes before surgery. Language barrier made communication nearly impossible.

🔴 Complications with no support Developed an infection on day 3. The clinic's response? "It's normal, don't worry." Spoiler: it wasn't normal.

🔴 Results were catastrophic My nose was crooked, over-reduced, and had visible scarring. I looked worse than before surgery.

The real costs:

• Original Turkey surgery: $4,500

• Emergency revision in US: $12,000

• Second revision: $8,000

• Time off work: $3,000

• Emotional trauma: Priceless

Total damage: $27,500 (and I'm still not done)

What I learned: Cheap surgery isn't cheap when it goes wrong. US surgeons have insurance, accountability, and follow-up care. Medical tourism might save money upfront, but the risks are enormous.

If you're considering it anyway: Research extensively, verify credentials independently, plan for complications, and budget for potential revisions at home.

My advice? Save up and do it right the first time. Your face is worth it.