A woman who spent nearly £6,000 on a facelift in Turkey has faced cruel taunts from online trolls who questioned whether her surgery was performed in a 'kebab shop'.
Deirdre's Decision
Deirdre McCarthy, 54, from Dublin, Ireland, travelled to Istanbul in April 2026 for a deep plane facelift, saving more than £32,000 compared to having the same procedure in Ireland. She underwent a deep plane face and neck lift, upper and lower blepharoplasty, fat injections, and CO2 laser treatment at the Best Self Club clinic, paying just £5,900 (€6,827) for the full package, which included accommodation and a two-day hospital stay.
Deirdre, a ward administrator, said she had always wanted a facelift, especially after a chemical accident 15 years ago left scarring on her face. She also cited menopause as a motivation, saying she felt low and wanted a 'pick me up'. With the help of her daughter Ciara, she researched clinics extensively before choosing Istanbul.
The Procedure and Recovery
Deirdre had her five-hour operation on April 8, 2026, the day after arriving. Her surgeon used a bandaging technique that avoided drains. She described her recovery as 'grand', though she experienced a pressure sore from wearing her compression garment too tightly and some swelling, which later resolved.
She documented her healing process on TikTok, receiving mostly positive responses, but also some vicious comments. One troll asked: 'Did you have this done in a kebab shop in Turkey?' Another said: 'I don't know if I should feel sorry or laugh, because why would you do this?'
Deirdre's Response
Deirdre remains unfazed by the negativity, saying: 'Some comments are absolutely hilarious and I laugh at them. Ones that are a little bit vicious I don't pay attention.' She added that she wanted to share her experience to help 'regular Joes' considering similar procedures, showing the nitty-gritty of recovery, not just before-and-after photos.
The cost breakdown includes flights for two people at £604.73 return and the surgery package at £5,900, which covered all procedures, consultations, tests, medication, compression garment, nurse visits, seven nights' accommodation with breakfast, transfers, and one-year post-op support.
