AN ALTINKUM woman has spoken of the personal tragedies which lay behind her decision to have her Christmas wish granted to look 10 years younger - and to have a full face-lift in Turkey.
Irene Barr, originally from Glenrothes, in Fife, Scotland, spoke exclusively to Voices of the life-changing operation which cost just £3,400 – a snip compared to the £12,000 it would have cost in the UK.
Mrs Barr, aged 59, underwent a full face lift, neck lift, eye lift, lip implants and dermabrasion to the skin at the acclaimed Ege Hospital, in Izmir, three weeks ago and is now on the road to recovery.
She explained that the stress, worry and sadness of seeing seven members of her family, and four of her husband Billy`s family, dying within a 15-year period had taken its toll, and had prematurely aged her.
Mrs Barr, who has three grandchildren aged 18, 12 and 3 years, said: “Every time I looked in the mirror I was seeing the face of my mother. I think the personal sadness in our lives – particularly with my mum and four brothers dying – had taken its toll.
“When we relocated in August to Didim for a new life, I thought I would have a new face. Once I had the consultation with the surgeon, I thought `this is it` and I am going for it. It never entered my head to go back to the UK to have the operation done.
“I researched the issues and went along to a consultation with a surgeon and that was it.”
She said: “I was absolutely terrified before I went into surgery and afterwards I was in shock at my face. But every day I have improved gradually to the point that I am looking younger and it has really boosted my life no end.”
She said: “It wasn`t so much of getting rid of the wrinkles. I wanted to leave the stress and worry of the old life behind. Despite the swellings and everything, I don`t have any regrets.
“But getting a new face for Christmas and the New Year was a perfect wish and one which I had been thinking about as I advanced towards my 60th birthday. I was also self-conscious of my wrinkles and would always cover up my face when I spoke in public.
“But it has given me new found confidence and I am feeling great.”
She added: “I would suggest to people who are thinking of having aesthetic surgery and constantly sayd “I wish, I wish”, just go ahead and do it. Getting the surgery done in Turkey gave me no qualms or worries at all.
“I felt really at ease with the chosen surgeon and I placed my trust – and my face - in him.”
She said she had lost seven members of her family, including her mum, her brother-in-law, her nephew and four brothers, including three to cancer. Her husband had also lost his mum, his brother and sister, and a sister-in-law.
She said the surgery took five hours to complete and immediately afterwards, she was in shock. The retired care worker said: “I just thought “Oh my god” and wanted to get back to looking as normal as possible. My face was three times the size, but the healing process has gone extremely well so far.
“The dermabrasion is the one that makes you look a bit bad but within a week, you begin to heal and there is hardly any pain. Every day I am getting better. ”
Dermabrasion is most often used to improve the look of facial skin, or to smooth out fine facial wrinkles, such as those around the mouth.
Her husband Billy said: “To me, Irene looked fantastic before the operation. I did not think she needed surgery. I love her the way she is. After the op I was in complete shock and scared because of the outcome, but she is healing fine.”
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