What started as a simple confidence-boosting surgery turned into a nightmare for a British mother of five.
Chloe Roiser, a 31-year-old former nurse from Norfolk, flew to Turkey in April for breast augmentation surgery.
Seven weeks later, she’s still stuck there—emotionally, physically, and financially overwhelmed—fighting off a severe infection that now threatens her entire breast.
A £3,500 Procedure That Spiraled Into a Medical Emergency
Chloe had been hopeful when she booked the £3,500 procedure in Antalya, hoping to feel better about her body.
Despite warnings from loved ones and extensive online research, she decided to go ahead with the operation.
“I thought I’d done enough homework,” she admitted.
“But nothing could have prepared me for what happened.”
After an overnight hospital stay and surgery on April 24, everything seemed fine at first.
Chloe was sore and bandaged, but that was expected.
She took the antibiotics provided, drained her own dressings daily, and stuck closely to the aftercare routine.
Early Signs of Trouble Were Easy to Miss
Initially, post-op check-ups in Turkey didn’t raise any alarms.
The clinic staff even filmed her final consultation for marketing purposes.
But after returning home to Wymondham, she began to notice subtle but troubling changes—like tight tape around her stitches, redness, and swelling near her nipples.
More worryingly, she had no feeling in them.
“I couldn’t tell if anything was wrong because I couldn’t feel pain,” she said.
“I was doing everything they told me, but something wasn’t right.”
Infection Takes Hold and Alarms Ring
By the end of May, things took a sharp turn.
Chloe removed her bandages and was shocked to see the edges of her nipples red, raised, and inflamed.
The cream provided by the clinic did little to help.
It wasn’t until her aunt—an experienced beautician—warned her it might be necrosis (tissue death) that the urgency hit.
“I had to drop everything, arrange care for my kids, and get back to Turkey as soon as I could,” Chloe said.
She had no idea if the infection would worsen or what the outcome would be.
“My mum is disabled, and my kids needed looking after. It was chaos.”
Emergency Treatment and A Harsh Reality
Once back in Turkey, doctors confirmed the worst. Chloe had developed nipple necrosis.
“They had to give me six injections of antibiotics and four local anaesthetics straight into my breasts,” she recalled.
“Then they used a scalpel to cut out the infected tissue. I’ve already lost part of my nipple.”
She was prescribed a second round of antibiotics—both injectable and oral—and told she’d need to remain in Turkey for longer than planned.
“No one mentioned booking a one-way ticket. I had only packed for a week,” she said, frustrated.
Financial Costs Keep Mounting
Chloe’s ordeal has come with a huge financial burden.
Two sets of flights for herself, her daughter, and her partner have cost her around £550.
Hotels closer to the clinic, which the staff insisted she book, have added up to £1,500.
And the daily cost of food and essentials in Turkey continues to drain her.
“The surgery might have been cheap, but everything else has cost me thousands more,” she said. “I can’t afford this, but I don’t have a choice.”
Feeling Abandoned and Left in the Dark
Chloe says she’s dressing her own wounds, sending photos to the clinic for updates.
But communication has been minimal, and she still has no idea when she’ll see a doctor again.
“I’ve asked about their insurance, but I’m scared to push while I’m still here.
What if they stop treating me?”
She admits feeling completely overwhelmed: “I’m emotionally, mentally, and financially drained. I never expected this.”
Living With Regret and Uncertainty
Now, Chloe is grappling with guilt and regret over her decision. “People warned me.
I should’ve listened,” she says. “I just wanted to feel better about myself, but now I might lose my whole breast.
I can’t stop thinking about my kids. I’m meant to be looking after them—and I’m stuck in a hotel, scared, and in pain.”
Doctors have warned her that even if things improve, there’s no guarantee the infection won’t return.