Leanne Abeyance, 40, from Telford, Shropshire, jetted to Turkey in May 2024 to replace her 13-year-old veneers with implants – but scans showed two implants had pierced her nose
When Leanne Abeyance flew to Turkey in May 2024 to swap her 13 year old veneers for implants, she never anticipated the ordeal that awaited her.
Leanne, hailing from Telford, Shropshire, opted for treatment overseas due to the hefty £40,000 price tag attached to the same procedure in the UK. The Turkish clinic quoted her £8,000, of which she paid an initial £3,000, with the balance due once her new teeth were in place.
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Following a dentist’s advice, she underwent a sinus lift and bone grafts, receiving eight implants on the upper jaw and seven on the lower. Prior to this nightmare, Leanne had been working as a DJ, but found herself having her teeth extracted and replaced with screws and implants.
Two days post-surgery, the 40 year old had her temporary teeth fitted. She was scheduled to return to Turkey five months later for her permanent set and initially, she was pleased with her interim smile.
However, Leanne soon began suffering severe headaches and sinusitis in the weeks following the operation. A private dental scan revealed two implants had penetrated her nasal cavity, leaving her terrified she might lose her upper lip, reports the Mirror.
Leanne shared her distressing experience with us: “I was constantly in and out of the doctors and given antibiotics, but nothing was clearing it. I got hospitalised overnight on an IV feed. A few weeks back, I was in the worst pain of my life, going back and forth to AandE, where they couldn’t do anything.”
The situation remains equally dire today. She explained: “I’m scared that I’m going to have no lips left. It’s [the hole] already gone under my top lip and onto my gums.
“It doesn’t stop leaking and bleeding. I can’t even eat properly anymore because it’s so sore and painful. And the fact that I have to keep the gauze on, I can’t breathe.”
Leanne described how “thick gunk” continuously seeps from the wound, which we’ve opted not to display due to the graphic nature of the images. She feels “angry, frustrated, tired and fed up” after being unable to secure assistance at A&E, as her situation is reportedly a “grey area”.
Leanne is currently waiting for her GP to confirm whether she’s developed osteomyelitis, a severe, typically bacterial, bone infection that triggers inflammation, discomfort, fever, and swelling.
The challenges extend beyond the physical toll, as Leanne is also grappling with hostile responses she’s encountered online.
Nevertheless, there appears to be hope on the horizon, as she revealed: “I have contacted my original surgeon in London and he has given me an appointment in a few weeks, so fingers crossed.”
Leanne implored others facing comparable circumstances to “please go private, do not leave it. Do not accept no for an answer”.
Addressing online trolls posting hurtful comments on social media, Leanne also stated: “Start being kind to one another, we are all human, and there’s only so much one can take”.
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