Happy anniversary, darling. And here’s your gift… a whole new look thanks to a facelift that cost €10k

By Eva Marie Gibney

PAUL WHELAN didn't get his wife any old gift to celebrate their 28th wedding anniversary this year. Instead, he bought her a brand new face.

Jeanette Whelan, 52, said she was fed up of looking into the mirror and seeing a 'tired-looking' mother of four stare back at her.

And despite reluctant friends telling her not to go for surgery, she let her husband treat her to a €10,000 cosmetic makeover three weeks ago.

She will be able to show off her new look at her son Paul's nuptials next month.

'My son is getting married next month in Spain and I just felt I could look a bit better.

'I wouldn't say the wedding was the reason, but the timing was a happy coincidence. 'I had saved up a little bit, but my husband said: "If that's what you want, you should get it".'

And the grandmother of six even admitted it has added a few sparks to her marriage.

'He loves the new me, he thinks I look absolutely brilliant.'

In total, Jeanette underwent four procedures on the way to her rapid transformation - a neck lift, face lift, upper eye bag removal and liposuction to the chin and neck.

'My sister-in-law had a boob job and I had seen loads of those reality makeover shows. That encouraged me to go ahead with the surgery,' she said. 'People said: "No you're crazy, you look fine," but now they think I look fantastic.

'My eyes would be so heavy looking that makeup just didn't look right, and my neck had these awful jowls.'

Jeanette said she was astounded to feel little pain and only mild discomfort after the two and a half hour procedure, having to spend 'only one night in the clinic' before being allowed home.

She had the surgery in Cosmedico Clinic in Kilmacanogue, Co. Wicklow. The popular clinic, described by clients as 'comforting', is wildly popular with Irish women and men.

It was set up last October under the keen eye of Dr Malhas, a top surgeon who received his training in Germany.

'He received specialist training and worked on a number of A-list celebrities over there,' Cosmedico's Donna Fitzpatrick said.

'We offer discretion that isn't offered everywhere in Ireland,' she added.

Staff kept quiet about celebrity clients, but admitted that 'faces you wouldn't believe' are gracing the private rooms at the Wicklow clinic.

And the Irish public are definitely not put out by the hefty price tags attached to these life-changing procedures, with a standard boob job setting you back €6,200.

The clinic even claims to attract a large male client base opting to get rid of man-breasts, so-called 'moobs'.

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