Deirdre says she won’t see the full results of the face transformation for a year (Image: Deirdre McCarthy / SWNS)
A woman who travelled to Turkey to receive a £6,000 facelift has been mocked by those who have seen the end result. Deirdre McCarthy, 54, flew to Istanbul for the procedure in April 2026 and has since shared the results online. But those who saw the aftermath of Deirdre’s face and neck lift were left in stitches.
Deirdre also received an upper and lower blepharoplasty, fat injections, and CO2 laser treatment. She spent £5,900 on the package with the Best Self Club clinic, which included accommodation and a two-day hospital stay. Had she gotten the surgery in Ireland, where she is from, it could have set her back £38,891.25.
Recovery has been going well for the 54-year-old, though she says that while sharing her journey online she has received “vicious” comments from members of the public.
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The 54-year-old travelled to Turkey for the procedures (Image: Deirdre McCarthy / SWNS)
The ward administrator from Dublin 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.
“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.”
She flew out to Istanbul on April 7 and underwent five-hour surgery a day later. Deirdre added: “I felt great, groggy, stiff and tight but no pain. 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.”
Deirdre said her recovery from the procedures has been ‘great’ (Image: Deirdre McCarthy / SWNS)
Deirdre has received a mixture of well-wishers and trolls in her comments since the surgery. One person wrote: “You will look amazing once it’s all settled down and you’re back to normal, good luck hun.”
Another added: “Did you have this done in a kebab shop in Turkey?” A third shared: “I don’t know if I should feel sorry or laugh, because why would you do this?'”
Deirdre said: “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 duck’s back to me. Some comments are absolutely hilarious and I laugh at them. Ones that are a little bit vicious I don’t pay attention [to], they’re not doing anything other than making themselves look bad to be quite honest.”