Most Women buy a new hat for a wedding – meet a woman who bought a whole new face

By Aoife Anderson

A DUBLIN mum has upped the beauty stakes for mothers of the groom everywhere by undergoing a face lift in time for her son's wedding next month.

Mother of four Jeanette Whelan, from Ballybrack in south Dublin, opted to have the €10,000 cosmetic procedure in a bid to look fresh faced on her eldest son Paul's big day.

In addition to having a full-face lift, Jeanette, a grandmother of six, also opted to undergo a full eyelift.

Just three weeks after going under the knife, Jeanette (52) told the Evening Herald she is thrilled with her new look.

"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 why I did it but the timing was a happy coincidence.

"I'm not old but I was starting to feel tired looking and my eyes were dropping so I wanted to look the best I could.

"It wasn't like I wasn't happy with myself before because I've always taken good care of myself physically.

"All my family and friends initially told me not to do it and that I looked great the way I was but those closest to you will always say that.

CONSULTATION

"It was only about a year and a half ago that I decided I was definitely going to have the procedures but I was thinking about it for a few years.

Jeanette said that she, due to reality television shows, she was fairly well prepared for the procedure at the newly opened Cosmedico Clinic in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow.

"I felt like I knew exactly what was going happen to me so I wasn't really nervous in my first consultation, but I was terrified going into the surgery.

Jeanette also made sure she had a hand in creating her desired look.

"I didn't want the 'wind tunnel' look that some people get after a face lift so I don't think I look especially different, just better.

"Once I had it done, all my family and friends were dying to see the results and they think I look brilliant.

"We both love the results and it's only been three weeks so I'm still a bit swollen."

Jeanette also revealed that despite expecting to be in severe pain, she was astounded to feel very little discomfort after undergoing the surgery.

"I couldn't believe how little pain I felt and how little swelling there was. The only pain I felt was behind my neck where they did a little liposuction but my eyelids were not painful at all.

"It was all over in two and a half hours and I was only in the clinic for one night and then I was home so it was very quick procedure and I'm healing fantastically.

"I think I look like I'm in my 40s again and that's how I feel, so I'm absolutely delighted with my new look.

"I don't think I'll get another procedure or a touch up any time in the future because if this face lasts me ten years, I'll be happy. I think a lot of people would be surprised by the number of people, both men and women, having cosmetic surgery in Ireland at the moment."

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