Turkey dental work leaves woman in constant pain
A Shropshire woman says four dental implants in Antalya left her with a collapsed nasal septum and ongoing infections, with NHS warning of the risks of traveling abroad for cosmetic procedures.
Leanne Abeyance, 41, from Telford, says she is living in constant pain and cannot breathe through her nose after four dental implants performed in Antalya, Turkey, in April 2024. She says the work left her with an infected face and a collapsed nasal septum that she says cannot be repaired because the infections are too advanced.
Before the implants, Abeyance had veneers in Turkey. She was quoted about £50,000 to have the work done in the UK but found a practice in Antalya that required £3,000 in cash upfront. The surgeon told her she would have a sinus lift and a bone graft, along with removing veneers and placing implants.
Despite receiving local anesthesia, she says she could feel the procedures: she describes a hammer-like sensation during the bone graft and a facial lift during the sinus lift, with her face turning black and blue. After two days of pain and swelling, she received temporary teeth over the implants and planned to return four months later for permanent teeth, though she eventually declined.
Back in the UK, Abeyance says she could not breathe through her nose and was treated for sinusitis. When antibiotics did not help, she consulted an NHS dentist who said they could not assist because she had pursued treatment abroad. A private dentist later produced an X-ray showing the implants piercing her nose. The temporary teeth were removed and dentures placed over the implants, but the infection persisted. She eventually sought care at the Ear, Nose and Throat unit at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford, where doctors said the implants could not be removed because the face was too infected. Nearly 18 months on, Abeyance says she suffers from constant infections and relies on daily prescription drugs; she is now seeking a surgeon who can help.
NHS guidance cautions that while treatment abroad can be cheaper, patients should weigh the risks and consult their NHS dentist first, as standards vary by country. The government has warned about the risks of traveling abroad for cosmetic procedures.