A mother of four tragically passed away following a trip to Turkey for cosmetic surgery. Jessika Chagnon Gailloux, 35, underwent a tummy tuck and breast lift at a private hospital in Antalya, where despite a successful surgery, her health deteriorated rapidly afterward. Despite medical efforts to save her, she did not survive.
The incident comes shortly after reports of the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office issuing travel warnings to British nationals visiting Turkey due to seven deaths of UK citizens following surgeries there last year. Many Britons choose Turkey for medical procedures like cosmetic surgery, cardiac treatments, and dental care, but the FCDO cautions about varying medical standards.
Jessika, hailing from Quebec, Canada, passed away on March 7. Authorities conducted investigations, including a review by the prosecutor’s office and an autopsy by the Antalya Forensic Medicine Institution. Her friend revealed they had used drugs days before arriving in Turkey.
A fundraising campaign has been initiated by Jessika’s friend Ericka to support her children left motherless. The spokesperson for the Antalya police noted that no external injuries were found on Jessika’s body apart from surgical marks. Investigators are looking into her health before the surgery and activities leading to her death.
In response to such incidents, Health Secretary Wes Streeting advised caution to British travelers considering cosmetic procedures abroad, especially those offered at unusually low prices. Recent deaths of British citizens in Turkey after cosmetic surgeries include cases like Kaydell Brown, Hayley Dowell, Janet Lynne Savage, and Anne Towlson, highlighting the risks associated with medical tourism.