Saudi Gazette Report

RIYADH — The Saudi Embassy in Turkiye is following up on the circumstances that led to the death of a Saudi citizen in Istanbul. According to local Turkish newspapers, the Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the causes of the death of the citizen following complications after undergoing a leg-lengthening procedure in a private hospital in Turkiye.

The Turkish media reported that the cosmetic surgery for the Saudi citizen held at a hospital in Beylikdüzü, Istanbul, on February 18, initially appeared successful but the subsequent complications led to his death. The citizen was staying at Days Hotel by Wyndham İstanbul Esenyurt during the post-operative phase, which involved mainly physical therapy. In the course of the therapy, his condition worsened and breathed his last.

The Turkish media said that investigators from the Turkish Public Prosecutor’s Office confiscated documents regarding his treatment, as well as CCTV footage, and medical reports as part of the investigation before transferring his body to the Forensic Medicine Center in order to determine the cause of the death. They are also updating the Saudi Embassy about the progress of the investigation.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ayed Al-Shahrani, an orthopedic consultant, said in a statement on his X account that bone lengthening operations, whether for the purpose of treating pathological shortening or cosmetic lengthening, are considered medically recognized operations.

He explained that it requires certain requirements for the patient, and it is also supposed to be performed by specialists, as is the case with any other surgical procedure, to ensure reaching the highest levels of safety.

Al-Shahrani said that there might be complications if the necessary precautions are not taken to avoid them, explaining that this does not only concern lengthening operations, but also most surgeries that lead to limiting movement and walking after they are performed, especially lower limb operations. He pointed out that these precautions are important to prevent the occurrence of deep vein thrombosis, which may spread to the lungs and cause death.

It is noteworthy that leg-lengthening is a complex procedure that involves cutting bones and using devices to slowly extend them. It’s often sought for cosmetic reasons, despite being originally developed for medical deformities.

The death of the citizen has prompted calls for stricter international standards for elective surgeries. Patient safety, especially in the context of medical tourism, has become a focal point. The Turkish authorities are examining the incident to improve regulatory measures and prevent future tragedies. The case may lead to more stringent protocols for such surgeries.