A woman claims jetting to Turkey for a boob job saved her life after medics diagnosed a deadly pregnancy complication.
Lauren Parker, 25, flew to Istanbul, Turkey, on September 5, 2023, for a breast uplift and implants.
Before leaving the UK, she experienced “unusual bleeding” but had been assured by her GP she was fine to fly and put it down to an abnormal period.
But, during a consultation with surgeons on the day of her breast operation, a routine blood test revealed Lauren was around five weeks pregnant.
An ultrasound showed Lauren was experiencing an ectopic pregnancy - a potentially deadly condition where the fertilised egg gets stuck in the fallopian tube.
Concerned doctors advised they needed to act fast and explained there was no other option but to operate.
Surgery and removal of a fallopian tube is the most common treatment for an ectopic pregnancy - however, it does reduce fertility and chances of conceiving.
During a 45-minute keyhole surgery, a surgeon removed her fallopian tube - saving her life as she had started to bleed internally.
Medics then kept her under anaesthetic for another seven hours while they performed her breast enlargement - taking her breasts from a ‘’baggy’’ size B to a size E.
Lauren, an aesthetics practitioner and lash technician, from Southampton, Hampshire, said: “If I didn’t go for that surgery I might not be here today.
“I was certain I wasn’t pregnant - I didn’t believe them at first.
“The staff in Turkey were amazing - they saved my life.
“On top of that, I got my new boobs too, so it was amazing all around.
“I know there are horror stories about Turkish clinics, but I can’t recommend this one highly enough.”
After booking her £3,600 breast enhancement and lift in August 2023, Lauren was “excited” to finally get her new bust after becoming sick of her “droopy, far apart boobs”.
She felt they had become “worse than ever” after she’d dropped six stone during a two-year period - going from 16st8lbs and a size 16 to 10st8lbs and a slender size 10.
But just weeks before going away she began to experience intermittent bleeding, period pains and felt faint and sick.
Lauren even took a pregnancy test to ensure she’d be fit to fly- which came back negative.
When the bleeding continued, she reached out to her local GP - who gave her tranexamic acid medication to control the bleeding thinking it was an erratic menstrual cycle.
She said: ‘’I was feeling really rough and was worried with all the bleeding that I’d not be able to have the operation.
‘’I was worried about my iron levels to be honest and didn’t want to bleed out if I did have it.
‘’I was a bit shocked my GP didn’t try and find out a bit more or run any tests or see me in person.
‘’But I was told I was fine to go out there, so I went.’’
Lauren - who travelled with her boyfriend, Bradley Jones, 31, an accounts manager - was shocked when tests at the cosmetic surgery clinic revealed she was expecting.
The pair had not been officially trying to conceive but had “stopped using anything” after feeling they were ready for children.
“I requested multiple tests because I could not believe I was pregnant,” she said.
“Then the ultrasound scan came back with nothing and the doctors there were all really confused.
“It wasn’t until they did another closer scan that they found the pregnancy was actually in my tube.
“It was scary - they were all really worried about me and offered to do the operation themselves or advised I get back to the UK for it ASAP.”
Lauren chose to have the £1.5k operation to remove the egg and fallopian tube at the clinic on September 6 and had her boob surgery at the same time.
She said: “They saved my life by being so thorough.
Lauren in a Turkish hospital after receiving keyhole surgery to remove her fallopian tube— (Lauren Parker / SWNS)
“They were absolutely wonderful, they really cared and put me at ease.
“It was amazing, I felt in such safe hands.
“I knew something wasn’t right before I left the UK, I wish I’d trusted my gut and been listened to here.
“It was weird not knowing if I’d wake up with new boobs or not as they said they’d only do them if the keyhole had gone well.”
Despite being left with just one fallopian tube, Lauren is feeling positive about the future.
“I know it will be harder to get pregnant but I’m not going to stress just yet,” she said.
“I’m only 25 and we have lots of time to try.
“I have been told I’ll have to be quite careful about how I get pregnant and have lots of tests.
“It’s a bit scary but I’ve got lots of information.
“I feel much better now, I’ve got the look that I want.
“I felt so frumpy before.
“The shape is amazing, I feel so much better in myself and much more confident now.”
