A nurse who underwent cosmetic surgery in Turkey has been left furious after being mercilessly trolled online, with strangers sending hate messages and saying her face has been 'botched'.
Queensland mother-of-one Shanon travelled to Istanbul in March to undergo a facelift with MCAN Health, documenting her recovery online to give other women a better understanding of the process.
But she was left appalled by the barrage of messages from anonymous trolls mocking her appearance and urging her to seek urgent medical help.
Shanon told the Mail that her appearance in the photos is simply due to normal post-surgical swelling, which will subside over time, and is not the result of a poor-quality procedure.
'Everyone thinks it's botched but this is actually what swelling looks like,' she said.
'I chose to go to Turkey after doing extensive research, particularly around surgeon experience and patient outcomes.
'As a registered nurse, I understand both the clinical side and the realities of recovery, which is part of why I felt comfortable making that decision.'
Determined to show the full reality of cosmetic procedures, Shanon documented everything from her hospital stay to her recovery at home.
She began sharing her journey from the outset, including what she packed in her hospital bag and her day trips around Istanbul, before returning home after two weeks.
Now 28 days after the procedure, which included a blepharoplasty and an endoscope temporal lift, she has been left disheartened by the backlash.
'I chose to have the procedure for personal reasons, as many people do, and went into it with a clear understanding that healing takes time,' she said.
'And I decided to share the experience because most people only ever see the "after" [photo] - not the reality of the recovery phase.
'I think that creates unrealistic expectations, especially on social media.'
While Shanon declined to reveal the exact cost, describing it as 'a considered investment rather than a rushed decision', facelifts in Turkey can typically cost around $5,000 to $10,000, with return flights averaging about $2,000.
'I didn't expect the level of attention it received, but it has highlighted how quickly people form opinions based on very early healing stages.'
'Isn't it sad what people do to themselves for no reason,' commented one person.
Shanon says she is determined to show the full reality of cosmetic procedures.
Shanon (above, before her facelift) is a registered nurse and has clinical experience in recovery.
She was inundated with thousands of unwelcome comments about her recovery.
'Sorry but this is really bad, the dimpling, the pulling is too tight,' added another.
'This is one of the worst lifts I have ever seen,' wrote a third.
As the criticism intensified, Shanon said some of the harshest comments came from an unexpected group: women over 60.
'One thing I will say about the online hate is [that] the most horrific comments come out of the mouths of women that appear to be in their 60s and older,' she said.
'I even had an NHS nurse in England harass me with abuse.
'I mean these women would have daughters, granddaughters, and here they are abusing me, all because a strong woman has decided to invest money in herself and document the process while trying to raise awareness about realistic healing times.
'For some reason, this hits a nerve with them and triggers anger. Unfortunately, you can't please everyone or educate those who feel that they already know it all.'
Despite the backlash, not all responses were negative, with some expressing genuine concern about Shanon’s recovery and suggesting she should get a second opinion about the swelling after four weeks.
But Shanon has doubled down, insisting neither she nor her doctor has concerns.
'From a clinical perspective, what people are seeing right now is very typical post-operative swelling,' she explained.
'Final results can take months, not days or weeks, which is something that often gets overlooked online.'
'My surgeon is happy with how things are tracking so far, and there have been no concerns raised clinically.'
'In terms of what's important, it's patience, realistic expectations and understanding that healing is a process.'
'For swelling and visible signs like redness or bloodshot eyes, it varies, but it's completely normal for this to persist for several weeks, with more subtle swelling lasting longer.'
'That's why judging results too early can be misleading.'
Shanon insists she is so happy with her recovery that she has signed up to be a tour leader for the overseas surgery company and can't wait to head back with a group of women soon.