Stanley Victim of FIFO Surgeon Won’t Give Up Regulation Fight

Published 8th Oct 2015

A Stanley mum who says she was 'mutilated' by a dodgy surgeon won't stop fighting until the industry is regulated.

Every two hours Dawn Knight’s alarm goes off. It’s reminding her to treat her eyes so she doesn't lose her sight.

She was the victim of a so called fly in fly out surgeon three years ago. This is a foreign surgeon who comes to the UK, carries out a list of operations then flies out again.

In 2012 Dawn went under the knife to have excess skin taken away from her eyelids. The surgeon recommended a lift on both the upper eyelid and the lower eyelid, but took too much skin off. She said:

“Every two hours its eye drops in my eye, at night I put a thick gel in both eyes and I tape my left eye closed. It is a constant reminder, the alarm going off on my phone every two hours, stop what you’re doing. But my eyesight is deteriorating and if this is what I have to do in the meantime to protect my eyesight then that’s what I have to do.”

Three years later she's done her research and realised this is happening right across the country.

She’s met with other women who are victims of the same surgeon. They’re now fighting for better regulation in the cosmetic industry.

“It is an absolute minefield. These procedures are sold on this candy coated package that we are offering you the best of the best. Actually it’s only when things go wrong that you realise just how much you are out on your own and you have been sold something that doesn’t exist.”

“Stopping now for me is not an option. The information that I’ve uncovered is horrendous. All of us that I’ve spoken to, we all need corrective surgery done. It was never meant to be like this.”

Dawn tells us that her MP Kevan Jones is taking the matter to parliament this month and her questions have gone to Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS England England’s Medical Director.

Meanwhile, Europe’s largest cosmetic surgery and non-surgical expo is being held in London this week.

The BAAPS Annual Scientific Meeting is a chance for surgeons and trainees around the world to hear presentations on the latest cosmetic surgery technologies and techniques.

Cosmetic doctors, dentists and nurses are meeting to discuss greater care in the industry; we’re told better regulation is certainly on the agenda.