A 54-year-old woman who spent nearly £6,000 on a facelift in Turkey has faced cruel taunts from online trolls questioning whether her surgery was carried out in a 'kebab shop'. Deirdre McCarthy, a ward administrator from Dublin, Ireland, travelled to Istanbul in April 2026 for a deep plane facelift and other procedures.
Ms McCarthy paid £5,900 (€6,827) for the full package at the Best Self Club clinic, which included accommodation and a two-day hospital stay. The same procedures in Ireland would have cost an estimated €45,000 (£38,891). She underwent a deep plane face and neck lift, upper and lower blepharoplasty, fat injections and CO2 laser treatment.
Documenting her recovery on TikTok, Ms McCarthy received a mix of responses. While many were supportive, one troll asked: 'Did you have it done in a kebab shop?' Others questioned why she would put herself through the procedure. Ms McCarthy said she pays no heed to 'vicious' remarks, noting that the overwhelming majority of feedback has been positive.
She said she had always wanted a facelift, especially after a chemical accident 15 years ago left scarring on her face. The menopause also prompted her to seek a 'pick me up'. She spent months researching clinics with her 35-year-old daughter Ciara before choosing Istanbul.
Ms McCarthy described her recovery as 'grand', though she experienced a slight pressure sore from wearing a garment too tightly and some swelling in her neck, which has since resolved. She said: 'I know this is a journey and can take six months to a year to see the full benefits but I'm very happy so far.'
