A woman spent nearly £6,000 for a facelift in Turkey, but has since faced cruel taunts from trolls questioning whether her surgery was carried out in a “kebab shop”.
Deirdre McCarthy, 54, saved £32,000 by jetting off to Turkey for a deep plane facelift after the menopause left her seeking a “pick me up”. She travelled to Istanbul for a deep plane face and neck lift, upper and lower blepharoplasty, fat injections and CO2 laser treatment in April 2026.
She paid just £5,900 (€6,827) for the full package at the Best Self Club clinic, which included accommodation and a two-day hospital stay. Had she chosen to undergo the procedures in Ireland, the surgery would have set her back an estimated €45,000 (£38,891.25).
11View 11 ImagesAntonia Higham, 28, first started getting cosmetic procedures when she was 18(Image: Antonia Higham / SWNS)
11View 11 ImagesAntonia after her facelift with bandages(Image: Antonia Higham / SWNS)
Deirdre described her recovery as “grand”, though she has held nothing back in sharing graphic post-operative updates with her online followers. She said the overwhelming majority of responses have been positive, and insists she pays no heed to any “vicious” remarks.
Deirdre, a ward administrator from Dublin, Ireland, said: “To be honest anybody that has known me for a long time will have known I’ve always said when the time comes if I can get my face and neck lifted I will no matter what.
“I always had that in the back of my mind and then I had a serious accident at home 15 years ago – it was a freak accident where a chemical blasted into my face. Ever since then I’ve recovered so well it was fabulous, but I looked in the mirror and I could see my scarring everywhere.
11View 11 ImagesAntonia said she wanted to get the “look of Bella Hadid”(Image: Antonia Higham / SWNS)
11View 11 ImagesAntonia jetted off to Turkey in March 2026, splashing £9,000 on a facelift and lip lift(Image: Antonia Higham / SWNS)
“As time went on with my lifestyle I probably smoked and drank too much, had a bad diet and a bad relationship and the whole lot takes a toll on your body. As I say it’s not for anyone else it’s always something I’ve wanted to do and last year I was financially in a better position to be able to go and do it.”
Deirdre carried out extensive research, with the assistance of her 35 year old daughter Ciara, into the best clinic for her procedure before choosing the one in Istanbul – speaking to former patients and the clinics themselves.
“We took a few months doing that and did not take the decision lightly,” she says. “The menopause as well was a killer for me. I was just feeling so low in myself and thought ‘I know what will pick me up’.
11View 11 ImagesAntonia became “addicted” to getting filler(Image: Antonia Higham / SWNS)
11View 11 ImagesAntonia had also previously had a nose job and a breast augmentation(Image: Antonia Higham / SWNS)
“We discussed when we got to the clinic and they suggested CO2 lasering but said there was no pressure. It involves lasering off layers of the skin and helps with fine lines, wrinkles, acne and scarring. With an original facelift they take the skin, but with a deep plane they get in there and move the muscle too”.
She travelled to Istanbul on April 7, 2026, undergoing her five-hour operation the very next day, with her surgeon employing a bandaging technique that eliminated the need for any drains to be inserted into her body.
Deirdre said: “I felt great, groggy, stiff and tight but no pain. I stayed there for a week but I could have extended if I wanted to do and see how my recovery was going.
View 11 ImagesAntonia Higham before and after her facelift(Image: Antonia Higham / SWNS)
“It’s been grand – I’ve had one or two little issues, one of them was whilst I was in Istanbul I had a slight pressure sore down the side of my face that was down to wearing my garment too tight and for too long but they provided the medications and cream needed.
“Getting back home I had a little swelling in my neck because I didn’t have to wear my garment anymore and it caused little lumps but they have disappeared now. 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”.
Documenting her day-by-day healing process on TikTok, she’s received a variety of responses. One follower commented: “You will look amazing once it’s all settled down and you’re back to normal, good luck hun.”
However, others appeared to challenge Deirdre’s choice, with one individual asking: “Why would you put yourself through this? I hope you’re happy with the results. Your face looked good, you didn’t need any procedures, take care.”
View 11 ImagesSome people reacted critically to Antonia’s latest treatment(Image: Antonia Higham / SWNS)
Another asked: “Did you have this done in a kebab shop in Turkey?” One individual remarked: “I don’t know if I should feel sorry or laugh, because why would you do this?”
Deirdre responded: “Some people say I’m a tough old cookie. Ninety percent have been fantastic women supporting women it’s been great.
“There’s an element of people with no shame commenting ‘just grow old gracefully’ and ‘why put yourself through this, so vain’, when it’s really not the case at all. Those type of comments really don’t phase me at all – it could affect other people, hence why I’m fine with putting the story out there, it’s like water off a ducks back to me.
11View 11 ImagesAntonia Higham before her facelift(Image: Antonia Higham / SWNS)
11View 11 ImagesDoctors advised Antonia against getting the facelift(Image: Antonia Higham / SWNS)
“Some comments are absolutely hilarious and I laugh at them. Ones that are a little bit vicious I don’t pay attention, they’re not doing anything other than making themselves look bad to be quite honest.
“I wanted to do this for the regular Joes thinking of doing it – usually you see the before and after but not the nitty gritty”.
- Flights (for two people): £604.73 return
- Surgery package: £5,900
Article continues below
Included in package:
- Fat injection for face
- Deep plane neck and face lift
- Upper and lower blepharoplasty
- Lip lift
- CO2 laser
- Doctor consultation and follow-up
- Pre-operative tests
- Medication and ointments
- Compression garment
- Nurse visit to hotel
- Private nurse at the hospital
- Seven night accommodation with breakfast included
- Private transfers between airport, hotel, doctors office and hospital
- One-year post-op support