An unusual problem for medical tourists

Cosmetic surgery can have unexpected consequences, particularly for medical tourists.

According to AFP, a group of 23 Chinese medical tourists travelled to South Korea to have cosmetic surgery on their faces. The surgery involved giving the group bigger eyes, slimmer chins and higher noses.

The women, who were aged between 36 and 54, looked so different to their passport photos that Airport Officers were unsure as to whether they really were the women they claimed to be.

The women arrived at the airport after surgery sporting large sunglasses and hats in order to hide the bandages and stitches. The Airport Officers requested that they remove these items of clothing so that they could be identified, a process which normally takes just a couple of seconds.

After a few minutes of discussions, the Airport Officers eventually conceded that the women did match up to their passports, however they requested that the women renewed their passports immediately to ensure no identity mix-ups in the future.