Additional Coverage:
- ‘My $11,000 facelift left me with hearing loss and a wonky mouth – now I wear wigs to cover the damage’ (themirror.com)
Cosmetic Surgery Abroad Leaves Woman with “Lopsided” Mouth, Hearing Loss, and a Hefty Bill
Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland – A Scottish woman’s quest for a more youthful appearance abroad has reportedly taken a distressing turn, leaving her with significant physical complications and a substantial financial burden. Angela Paterson, 48, a tattoo artist, claims a series of facial surgeries performed in Lithuania left her with permanent hearing loss and a “lopsided” mouth, among other issues. She now faces an additional $9,000 expense for corrective procedures in Turkey.
Paterson, who saved for two years to afford the initial $11,000 package – which included a facelift, neck lift, and upper blepharoplasty, along with travel and pet-sitting costs – traveled to Kaunas, Lithuania, in September 2024. She chose the Nordesthetics Clinic after seeing positive reviews and having had successful surgery in Turkey previously.
“I love Turkey for surgery, but I heard great things about Lithuania, and the flight was only two and a half hours, so it felt a little easier for post-surgery,” Paterson stated. “At the time, I had no concerns at all.
As far as I was concerned, I was going to a reputable company.”
However, immediately following the procedure, Paterson claims she experienced hearing problems and noticed her mouth appeared asymmetrical. “The right side of my mouth was lifted right up and the left side was drooping down,” she recounted. She asserts she raised these concerns the morning after the operation, a claim the clinic disputes, stating they have no record of it.
Fourteen months post-surgery, Paterson reports ongoing issues including scarring around her neck, a “bunched-up eye” from what she believes were overly tight stitches, persistent hearing loss in one ear, and visible platysma bands. While her mouth’s asymmetry has improved, it remains noticeable when she speaks.
“My confidence level, my mental health has all taken a dip because of it all,” Paterson shared. “It’s really traumatic.
I don’t go out anymore. I wanted to get this done to feel more confident, to feel younger and better about myself.”
Paterson also expressed concerns about a possible infection at the surgical site during her recovery, though she was assured the incision was not infected. Over the subsequent months, as her complications persisted, she grew “really concerned” about permanent damage.
“I’ve got lumps and bumps everywhere on my neck. I’ve got a big mark under my chin that’s really noticeable when I talk.
I’ve been wearing wigs to cover the damage,” she said.
The Nordesthetics Clinic reportedly offered an $800 revision surgery for her scars six months after the initial procedure, and again three months later. However, Paterson claims surgeons in the UK and Turkey advised against further revision surgery due to a lack of sufficient skin, suggesting instead $4,000 worth of steroid injections and CO2 laser treatment. By the time of the second offer from the Lithuanian clinic, Paterson’s insurance had expired, making travel costs prohibitive.
Paterson lodged a formal complaint with the Lithuanian clinic in July 2025, but they responded, stating she provided “no new evidence” to support her allegations. She has sought legal counsel, but UK attorneys have reportedly declined her case due to the surgery taking place in Lithuania.
“When you look up medical negligence abroad, lots of lawyers show up, but when you phone them and say Lithuania, they say that’s out of our jurisdiction,” Paterson explained. “I would need to pay many, many thousands upfront to a Lithuanian lawyer, probably more than the surgery itself.”
In just over a month, Paterson is scheduled to travel to Turkey for corrective surgery to address her platysma bands, undergo a temporal lift on her eye, and smooth out the scarring and lumps on her neck. This operation alone is priced at £6,500 (approximately $8,200), with additional costs of $586 for airfare and $463 for pet care.
A representative for Nordesthetics stated, “All patients, including Ms. Paterson, are informed of the risks and potential complications before surgery, and they confirm in writing that they are aware of these risks.”
They added, “Post-operative scarring is one of the complications Ms. Paterson had been made aware of before the surgery…
Since the surgery performed on Ms. Paterson complied with all medical standards, this complication is considered a risk that the patient was made aware of beforehand.”
The clinic also noted that Paterson had been informed she might need scar revision surgery and that they had offered this after an appropriate healing period.