A BRITISH family say they were forced to spend a year in Belgium after a mum suffered complications following a tummy tuck.
Valencia Cy, 42, had travelled with her husband and two children to the country for the £3,000 procedure in 2021.
SWNSValencia Cy was stuck in Belgium for a year after having a tummy tuck in the country[/caption]
The mum-of-eight with her partner JinoSWNS
But she was not closed up properly afterwards, she claims – leading to massive blood loss.
The mum-of-eight then went for emergency surgery, where doctors tried to treat the wound.
However, they allegedly decided it was best if she was left to heal naturally – meaning she had to spend a year in Belgium for treatment, and because she was too unwell to travel.
Her partner and two kids stayed over there to be with her. They are all now back home in Ashford, Surrey.
Valencia is thankfully fully recovered, but she wants to warn other Brits about the dangers of having surgery abroad.
The cosmetics business owner said: “I wanted the surgery as I had eight kids. I was feeling quite anxious about my body and the way I looked.
“I appeared on TV in 2021 and when I watched myself back I had a breakdown as I was really unhappy with how I looked.
“I approached a Belgian hospital and the process was really quick.
“I saw a doctor for consultation who referred me to the hospital where they examined me and took me in for surgery.
“The surgery went well and everything was OK and I was taken to the recovery area.”
There, a nurse realised that Valencia’s bandages were covered in blood and immediately called for help.
She said she was rushed in for a second surgery and slipped into a coma.
“From that moment, I didn’t know what happened,” she added.
“I woke up at 11pm and they told me I was in a coma and my incision was left open.
“They said they didn’t close it as they were more concerned about getting me awake.”
After a few days in hospital, Valencia was released and spent the following months in rented accommodation.
She had a third operation to repair the incision in April 2022.
Valencia said: “I had to settle in Belgium so medical staff could look after me and check up on me.
“I lost my mind, I wasn’t in a good way. I wasn’t doing well at all. I lost a lot of weight because I couldn’t eat.”
I will regret this for the rest of my life.
Valencia Cy
Valencia says she spent a year in Belgium alongside her husband Jino, 43, and their two children, aged five and seven.
The family rented a two-bedroom apartment for three months and then moved in with family and friends.
She said: “I was in bed for most of the time; the only thing I could do was go downstairs with the help of my husband.
“I would stay in bed for hours. A nurse would come every day and my husband would have to shower and dress me.
“It was hard for my children, they didn’t understand what was going on or why I had machines to help me breathe and why I had a nurse coming in to look after me.”
Valencia returned to the UK in August 2022 after a year away from her six older kids, aged 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, and 21, whom she shares with her ex-partner.
The parent said she will regret the operation for the rest of her life.
Valencia said: “I lost my business because I was away for so long and I couldn’t see my kids for a year.
“They didn’t understand what happened to me. I just told them that I moved to Belgium for a bit for a new job.
“I will regret this for the rest of my life and I would advise anyone not to rush into decisions like this – it will cost you your life. It cost me a year of mine.
“I should have stayed in England and done the surgery with someone who has a good reputation.”
Talking about his wife’s surgery, Jino added: “I didn’t want her to do the original surgery; I thought she was fantastic as she was.
“I told her that if she wanted to go through with it, I would support her.
“After she had the operation, I was scared and confused – it was difficult.”
SWNSValencia Cy in hospital following surgical complications[/caption]
SWNSValencia claims she was not closed up properly after the procedure[/caption]
The couple and their two children spent a year abroad as Valencia needed treatment and was ‘too unwell to fly home’SWNS
SWNSThe cosmetics business owner said: ‘I will regret this for the rest of my life’[/caption]