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General information only — not legal advice. Published by Edward & Amaury Solicitors, solicitors regulated by the SRA (no. 800525). How that affects what you read.

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Cosmetic Surgery Abroad Claims

England & WalesLast reviewed 18 September 2026

Claims after treatment abroad are difficult, because the treatment usually falls under the foreign country's law and courts. A UK claim may be possible against a UK-based company that arranged or contracted for the treatment, but you should first get safe, urgent medical care in the UK.

Why Claims Abroad Are Hard

Direct Answer: The clinic and surgeon are overseas, the standard of care and time limits are set by the local law, evidence and witnesses are abroad, and enforcing a judgment can be costly, so many claims are impractical.

Some countries have shorter limitation periods than three years, and contracts often choose foreign law and courts. Any waiver you signed may be treated differently abroad from in England, where negligent injury liability cannot be excluded in a consumer contract.

Who Might You Be Able to Sue in the UK

If you booked through a UK-based intermediary, agent or company that contracted with you, it may owe you obligations under UK consumer law, and in some cases could be liable for the treatment it arranged. If the treatment was a genuine package with travel services, package travel rules may apply. Each situation is fact-specific, and the contract and how it was marketed are central.

Protecting Yourself Now

Get any complication assessed urgently in the UK, tell the clinician exactly what was done, and keep the overseas records and any implant or product details. Photograph the problem over time and keep receipts and correspondence. Before booking any future treatment abroad, check who the practitioner is and what happens if things go wrong, and consider the cost of follow-up care at home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sue a clinic in Turkey from the UK?

It is usually difficult, because the treatment is governed by Turkish law and courts. A UK claim may be possible only against a UK company that contracted with you or arranged the treatment, so the contract and booking route matter.

Will the NHS treat complications from surgery abroad?

The NHS will treat urgent complications, but it does not usually pay to redo cosmetic work. Seek urgent medical care if you have signs of infection or serious problems.

What if I booked through a UK agent?

The agent may owe you duties under UK consumer law, and possibly be liable for the service it arranged. A solicitor can review the contract and marketing.

Do UK time limits apply?

Not necessarily. Foreign law may set a much shorter period for a claim against an overseas clinic, so take advice as soon as you can.

What evidence should I keep?

The contract, consent forms, invoices, messages, before-and-after photographs, medical records and any product or implant information, plus records of UK treatment.

Can I bring a cosmetic surgery claim on a no win no fee basis?

Often, yes, if a solicitor thinks the claim has reasonable prospects. Legal aid is not generally available. Under a Conditional Fee Agreement you pay no solicitor fees if the claim fails, and a success fee capped at 25% of general damages and past losses is deducted if it succeeds. Claims need expert evidence, so ask how those costs are covered.

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Where this applies: This page covers England and Wales. The rules in Scotland and Northern Ireland are different.

Sources for this page

Every rule stated above is based on the primary sources below. Each link goes to the legislation, court rule or regulator itself so you can check it. Last verified 18 September 2026.

  1. Courts and Legal Services Act 1990, s.58 (conditional fee agreements)

    The provision that makes CFAs lawful and enforceable. CFAs derive from this section, not from LASPO.

  2. Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013, arts. 4–5 · in force from 1 April 2013

    Art. 4 caps the success fee at 100% of base costs. Art. 5 caps what may be taken from damages in personal injury at 25% of PSLA plus past pecuniary loss, net of CRU, at first instance.

  3. Civil Procedure Rules, Part 44 (incl. rr.44.13–44.17, QOCS)

    Qualified one-way costs shifting and its exceptions. Rule 44.14 was amended with effect from 6 April 2023.

  4. Limitation Act 1980, s.11 (personal injury actions)

    Three years from the date of the accident or the date of knowledge. Property damage such as a damaged vehicle is a separate claim with a longer six-year period under s.2.

  5. Limitation Act 1980, s.14 (date of knowledge)

    The three-year period can run from the 'date of knowledge': when you first knew the injury was significant and attributable to the act or omission alleged to be negligent. Central in delayed-diagnosis cases.

  6. Limitation Act 1980, s.33 (discretionary exclusion of time limit)

    A court can allow a personal injury claim to proceed out of time where it is equitable to do so. It is a discretion, not a right, and should not be relied on.

  7. Consumer Rights Act 2015, s.49 (service to be performed with reasonable care and skill)

    In a consumer contract for services, the trader must perform the service with reasonable care and skill — relevant to gyms, hotels, salons and activity providers.

  8. Consumer Rights Act 2015, s.65 (no exclusion of liability for negligence causing death or personal injury)

    A trader cannot exclude or restrict liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence through a term in a consumer contract or a notice, so a waiver or 'enter at your own risk' sign does not defeat such a claim.

Who wrote and checked this page

Written and published by
Edward & Amaury Solicitors (Edward & Amaury Ltd, company no. 12195443), regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under no. 800525.
Legal review
Checked for England & Wales by Edward & Amaury Solicitors — Solicitors regulated by the SRA (no. 800525) (verify on the regulator’s register).Review is recorded against the firm. The individual reviewer is not named on this page.
Review dates
Last reviewed 18 September 2026. Next review due 18 March 2027.

Fee rules change. California’s medical malpractice fee limits changed on 1 January 2023, and the QOCS rules in England and Wales changed on 6 April 2023. If you spot something out of date, tell us — we publish corrections.

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Where this applies: This page covers England and Wales. The rules in Scotland and Northern Ireland are different.

Sources for this page

Every rule stated above is based on the primary sources below. Each link goes to the legislation, court rule or regulator itself so you can check it. Last verified 2 August 2026.

  1. Courts and Legal Services Act 1990, s.58 (conditional fee agreements)

    The provision that makes CFAs lawful and enforceable. CFAs derive from this section, not from LASPO.

  2. Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013, arts. 4–5 · in force from 1 April 2013

    Art. 4 caps the success fee at 100% of base costs. Art. 5 caps what may be taken from damages in personal injury at 25% of PSLA plus past pecuniary loss, net of CRU, at first instance.

  3. Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, ss.44–46 · in force from 1 April 2013

    Ended recoverability of success fees and ATE premiums from the losing party. Did not create or regulate CFAs.

  4. Civil Procedure Rules, Part 44 (incl. rr.44.13–44.17, QOCS)

    Qualified one-way costs shifting and its exceptions. Rule 44.14 was amended with effect from 6 April 2023.

Who wrote and checked this page

Written and published by
Edward & Amaury Solicitors (Edward & Amaury Ltd, company no. 12195443), regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under no. 800525.
Legal review
This page has not yet been through independent legal review. It is written from the primary sources listed below, which you can check directly.
Review dates
Last reviewed 2 August 2026. Next review due 2 February 2027.

Fee rules change. California’s medical malpractice fee limits changed on 1 January 2023, and the QOCS rules in England and Wales changed on 6 April 2023. If you spot something out of date, tell us — we publish corrections.