Angela Paterson, 48, spent two years saving for a facelift, necklift and upper blepharoplasty in Lithuania but claims she’s been left with a ‘lopsided’ mouth and hearing loss
A woman who jetted off to Lithuania for a face and neck lift in a bid to “feel younger” has expressed her regret after claiming the procedure left her with hearing loss and a “lopsided” mouth, facing over £7,000 in costs to rectify it. Angela Paterson, 48, scrimped and saved for two years, splashing out more than £8,000 on a facelift, neck lift and upper blepharoplasty in Kaunas, which included flights, accommodation and pet-sitting expenses.
However, post-surgery, she alleges that she suffered hearing loss and her mouth appeared “lopsided”. Even after 14 months of recovery, Angela claims she still bears scars around her neck, a “bunched-up eye” due to tight stitches, and persistent hearing loss in one ear.
She’s now preparing to fly to Turkey for corrective surgery on her neck and eye next month, estimating that the operation and travel expenses will exceed £7,000.
Angela, a tattoo artist hailing from Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, said: “My confidence level, my mental health has all taken a dip because of it all. 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.
“I’ve been left looking at myself and saying ‘I’m not happy with this’. It’s had a severe impact on my mental health.”
In September 2024, Angela travelled to Kaunas and underwent a facelift, neck lift and upper blepharoplasty at Nordesthetics Clinic. Having read positive reviews of the clinic and having previously undergone successful surgery in Turkey, she believed she was in safe hands.
She added: “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. At the time, I had no concerns at all. As far as I was concerned, I was going to a reputable company.”
After the operation, Angela claimed she began experiencing hearing loss and noticed her mouth was lopsided. “The right side of my mouth was lifted right up and the left side was drooping down,” she explained.
Angela says she voiced these concerns “the very morning after” the procedure, but the clinic denies having any record of this. She remained in the Baltic country for another six days before heading back home.
A month on, Angela informed the clinic that her recovery was progressing “well”, but pointed out bumps around her chin and a lisp caused by her uneven mouth. She said the clinic reassured her that these issues were normal for her stage of healing.
She also expressed concern over a possible infection at the incision site, but was assured that the cut was not infected. Months later, still dealing with a noticeable mark under her chin, which becomes visible when she speaks, Angela grew “really concerned” about the lasting effects.
She also sounded the alarm over scarring around her neck, an eye she claims was bunched-up due to tight stitches, persistent hearing loss in one ear and visible platysma bands. Her lopsided mouth has improved, but is still noticeable when she speaks, she added.
She went on to say: “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.”
Half a year after the procedure, the clinic offered Angela a revision surgery on her scars for £600. However, she alleges that surgeons in the UK and Turkey told her she didn’t have enough skin for revision surgery and instead would need steroid injections and Co2 laser treatment costing at least £3,000 per session.
In July 2025, she lodged a formal complaint with the Lithuanian clinic, but they responded saying she provided “no new evidence” to support her claims. Another offer of revision surgery for £600 was made three months later, but by then she said she couldn’t afford the travel costs as her insurance had expired. Angela mentioned that she has sought legal advice, but claims UK lawyers have declined to take her case because she underwent surgery in Lithuania.
She said: “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. Yes, I made the decision to go abroad.
“I get that and people will say that’s my decision. But the point I need to get across to people is that a court won’t represent you in Lithuania.
“In Turkey they would. I didn’t know that before I went out. [To fight the case] I would need to pay many, many thousands upfront to a Lithuanian lawyer, probably more than the surgery itself.”
In just five weeks, she’s set to jet off to Turkey for a procedure to mend her platysma bands, get a temporal lift on her eye and “level out” the scarring and lumps on her neck. The operation itself carries a hefty price tag of £6,500, but she’s also had to fork out £443 for flights and £350 for pet-sitting.
A representative for Nordesthetics said: “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. Post-operative scarring is one of the complications Ms Paterson had been made aware of before the surgery.
“This complication is caused by the body’s response to the surgery and may be influenced by different aspects of a patient’s physique that cannot be determined 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. She had also been informed that she potentially might need scar revision surgery, and the clinic offered this surgery after an appropriate scar healing period.”
