Adverts promoting surgery at three cosmetic clinics in Turkey have been banned in the UK for “trivialising” the decision to go under the knife abroad.
The ads, all paid for on Facebook and seen in May, were investigated by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for making irresponsible claims and misleadingly omitting information about the need for medical pre-consultations.
An ASA spokesperson said: “We know that consumers are increasingly looking at going abroad for cosmetic surgery due to cost or ease of access and, while many people may be happy with the results, there are still inherent risks.
“That’s why it’s so important that ads for these services aren’t misleading or irresponsible, and why this is a high priority area for the ASA.
“Advertisers targeting people in the UK need to ensure that they’re following the Code, even if the service isn’t based here. They mustn’t trivialise the decision to get cosmetic surgery or put people under pressure to take up time limited offers. They should also make clear the need for a pre-consultation, including where it will take place.
“We’re continuing to monitor the situation, with more investigations underway, and we’re preparing further regulatory action for the near future.”