WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES: Talyah Reid was elated when her family chipped in for her to have a breast augmentation for her birthday – but she was left in agony and needing corrective surgery
A mum claims a Turkish clinic ‘rushed’ to count her £4,000 in front of her before botching her boob job – then disappeared when she was left with ‘leaking and black’ breasts.
Talyah Reid was elated when her family all chipped in money for a breast augmentation as an early birthday present ahead of her 30th in September.
The 29-year-old said it had been her dream to have the surgery after having three children – and began researching cosmetic clinics eight years ago.
The stay-at-home mum stumbled upon one clinic in Turkey that had been recommended by influencers on social media. Determined on fixing her biggest insecurity, the mum-of-three booked a boob job and uplift in January and flew to Turkey on February 2nd for the operation.
Talyah, who lives in Huyton, Merseyside, said she was initially pleased with the results but soon began experiencing concerning symptoms after returning to the UK.
The mum said her breasts swelled to double the size and abscesses began developing on the incision marks underneath her boobs. Doctors confirmed the cuts were infected and covered in ‘dead skin’ – meaning the implants would have to be urgently removed.
Luckily, Talyah made a full recovery but feels ‘lucky to be alive’ and is urging others to steer clear of abroad plastic surgery clinics offering cheap prices.
Talyah said: “I’d wanted [my boobs] done since my son was born eight years ago. I didn’t want to go bigger, I just wanted to get back what I’d lost after having three kids. I never ever put a bikini on or went on spa days. It was my biggest insecurity.
“I researched quite a few places. I was looking where influencers had been. I’d been looking for years but never had the money to do it. It’s my 30th in September and all my family put money towards it as a present. I always wanted to go to this clinic and had seen their previous work on social media so decided to book it.”
Talyah forked out £4,000 in cash for the surgery and went under the knife on February 3rd. She said: “They were so rush, rush with everything. I paid cash and they were counting it all in front of me. Before I knew it, I was signing papers and they said I was ready to go down.
“Everything seemed fine when I woke up. I was asking them about certain pains I was getting and they said everything was normal. I saw my breasts straight after and they looked like what I wanted. The problems didn’t start until I got home.”
Upon returning back to the UK, Talyah noticed a lump had appeared in her left breast but the clinic reassured her this was ‘normal’. However, a month later Talyah was admitted to Whiston Hospital in Prescot after her right breast suddenly swelled to double the size.
Doctors prescribed pain relief and antibiotics to prevent an infection, but the same breast ‘blew up’ just two weeks later and the area underneath Talyah’s boobs began turning black with bruises.
A follow-up appointment confirmed there were infected abscesses on the incision marks where the implants had been inserted – and there was a high likelihood they would have to be removed.
Talyah said: “They kept me in overnight and told me I would need surgery. They said we’ll try our hardest to keep the implants but that wasn’t the case.
“The abscesses popped in hospital and the surgeon came to have a look, they said there’s no way we can save them. They said it would be impossible.
“I was devastated. I couldn’t look at myself. I was so angry with the clinic. I kept contacting them and they never replied. I was just left with the consequences.
“They said there was dead skin underneath my boob so had to remove quite a bit of skin. I’ve been left with a lot of scars. In Turkey, I felt scared getting the surgery but I felt in safe hands in the NHS.”
After five days in hospital, Talyah was discharged and feels lucky to be alive. The mum is now urging other women to avoid having any surgery in Turkey after nearly losing her life.
Talyah said: “I feel like I’ve been botched. I feel lucky to be alive. I knew as soon as I came home from Turkey something wasn’t right. I was in so much pain. I couldn’t even lift a kettle or push a pram. I wasn’t healed months down the line.
“I regret this surgery so much. I didn’t pick the cheapest place in Turkey, to me I thought I booked the best place. I’d say to any woman considering this surgery do not go to Turkey. It’s not worth it to save the extra money.”
Talyah is hoping to undergo correction surgery at some point in the future. Her mum has launched a fundraising page to help pay for the operation.
