An unlicensed practitioner in Liverpool has gone viral for offering blepharoplasties at bargain prices. Here, experts reveal the unnerving reality of cowboy doctors.
It’s no stretch of the imagination to say that cosmetic surgery is becoming more common than ever, but what lengths would you go to for the face of your dreams?
For some in Liverpool, the lengths have taken them to a flat above a restaurant in a busy Liverpool Street.
Liverpool’s ‘bleph lady’, whose real name is Ms Luyen Vu, is putting patients under anaesthesia and offering upper and lower blepharoplasties for between £600-800, according to TikTok users who have had the procedure done.
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Who is the ‘bleph lady’?
Channel 5 went undercover last year to expose Luyen’s service and lack of qualifications. According to the reporter, Luyen was unwilling to share her qualifications, which is unsurprising, as she has none from the UK.
Despite this, Luyen has managed to procure a loyal fan base who pass around her contact details through DMs, perhaps well aware of the risks but still eager to have the treatment done.
And make no mistake, a blepharoplasty is no minor procedure. Excess skin is cut from around the eyelids, with an aim of making people appear more youthful.
What’s even more worrying, is that there’s speculation this cowboy doctor might be offering deep plane facelifts next.
Mr Tunc Tiryaki, a board-certified plastic surgeon and professor at the Cadogan Clinic, adds that this is not a procedure that should be taken lightly. “A deep plane facelift is one of the most advanced and technically demanding procedures in facial plastic surgery.”
Mr Bryan Mayou, consultant plastic surgeon and founder of the Cadogan Clinic, calls the news “deeply concerning”.
“Even seemingly ‘minor’ procedures carry risks such as bleeding, infection or adverse reactions to anaesthesia,” he explains. “In an unregulated setting, these risks are significantly heightened, and the consequences can be life-altering, or even fatal.”
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How to check if a surgeon is good
Dr Ben Taylor-Davies, an aesthetic doctor and founder of The Stockbridge Clinic, says these surgeries carry some of the highest risks. “They should never be performed by anyone without adequate surgical training.”
A telltale sign for identifying a cowboy surgeon is low prices. Blepharoplasties by qualified surgeons often cost thousands of pounds, and while it may be tempting, saving money is not worth risking your life for.
“Safety must always come before cost,” Bryan adds, recommending that patients verify that their surgeon is listed on the specialist register for plastic surgery with the General Medical Council. “And ideally a member of respected bodies such as the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.”
Dr Ben adds, “Cosmetic surgery isn’t beauty, it’s medicine.” Verifying your surgeon should be treated as such.
Feature image: Pexels
