Deirdre McCarthy, a 54-year-old ward administrator from Dublin, Ireland, has defended her decision to undergo a £5,900 facelift in Turkey after facing online abuse from trolls who questioned whether her surgery was performed in a “kebab shop”.
McCarthy travelled to Istanbul in April 2026 for a deep plane face and neck lift, upper and lower blepharoplasty, fat injections and CO2 laser treatment at the Best Self Club clinic. The package included accommodation and a two-day hospital stay, costing a fraction of the estimated €45,000 (£38,891) she would have paid in Ireland.
She said she had always wanted a facelift, especially after a chemical accident 15 years ago left scarring on her face, and the menopause further prompted her to seek a “pick me up”. McCarthy documented her recovery on TikTok, where she received mostly positive feedback but also cruel comments, including one asking if her surgery was done in a “kebab shop”.
Despite the taunts, McCarthy remains undeterred, saying she pays no heed to “vicious” remarks. She described her recovery as “grand”, noting minor issues such as a pressure sore from a tight garment and temporary swelling in her neck, which have since resolved. She added that she is “very happy so far” and understands the full results may take up to a year to appear.
