SLOWLY opening her eyes, Rachel McIntyre was hit by a wave of pain so intense that it took away her breath.
Light-headed and nauseous, she could see blotches across her vision.
Rachel and lookalike daughter Bethany[/caption]
In panic, she tried to explain to the nurses nearby that she needed pain relief – only to find that none of them spoke English.
For the next few hours, as she was given a blood transfusion and more medication, Rachel thought she might die, thousands of miles from home and from her loved ones.
She had hoped full body liposuction and a Brazilian bum lift would cheer her up after a messy break-up. But she was instead left fearing for her life in a Turkish hospital.
Rachel says: “People think it’s a bargain, travelling overseas for cosmetic surgery.
“But I am warning that it isn’t so straightforward. I feel lucky to be alive after my op, I felt so vulnerable and afraid whilst I was in hospital.”
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Rachel, 37, hit the headlines when she became one of Britain’s’ youngest grans and later bagged herself a toyboy.
She began dating 19-year-old Sefkan, who is the same age as her daughter, Bethany, who gave birth to daughter Alaia, in October 2023.
Mum and daughter are often mistaken for sisters, and once even for twins.
Rachel says: “I don’t mind it when people get us confused. I am proud of my figure and my looks and I love it that Bethany and I are so similar.”
Rachel, also mum to Erica, 11, says: “I was a young mum myself so I have tried to give Bethany as much support and help as I can. I know it’s tough on your own.”
On a holiday to Turkey in June 2024, Rachel fell for Sefkan Guzol, a Kurdish staff member at the hotel where they were staying.
She says: “At first, I ignored his flirting. He was 19, the same as my daughter, and I insisted he was much too young.
“But eventually, I gave in, and we dated for eighteen months and I flew back and forth to visit him. Age is just a number after all. I take a lot of care with my body, and I am flattered that younger men notice me.”
But though she is used to receiving compliments, Rachel has revealed that her beauty came at a terrifying price.
With her confidence knocked by a break-up late in 2023, Rachel flew to Istanbul early in January 2024 for fully body liposuction and a Brazilian bum lift. But she says she feared she would not survive her surgery.
I saw an ad on TikTok promoting surgery in Istanbul and I knew the influencer so I felt a level of trust. I made enquiries and it all seemed to move very quickly, it felt a bit rushed, but I went along with it.
Rachel McIntyre
She had previously had tummy tuck surgery in Scotland which had gone well. And so after a relationship ended, decided to cheer herself up with liposuction and BBL.
She says: “I saw an ad on TikTok promoting surgery in Istanbul and I knew the influencer so I felt a level of trust. I made enquiries and it all seemed to move very quickly, it felt a bit rushed, but I went along with it.
“I was feeling down and my confidence was low and I really thought it was the boost I needed.
“After the surgery, I woke up and felt really unwell. I felt light-headed and I couldn’t see properly.
I am really pleased with the results of the surgery, but I would never go overseas for treatment again
Rachel McIntyre
“I was panicking, and the staff didn’t speak English. I eventually managed to make myself understood. They took my blood pressure and told me I needed a blood transfusion, but I would have to agree to pay for it first.
“I was too ill to understand the prices, I just had to go ahead with it. I was in and out of consciousness.”
Rachel remained unwell after the transfusion and spent three days in hospital. She then postponed her flight home, spending two weeks in Istanbul, before she felt well enough to travel.
She says: “I was just so glad to get out of the hospital that I didn’t make a complaint.
“I felt so vulnerable, not all of the staff were friendly, and I just wanted to get home.
“I am really pleased with the results of the surgery, but I would never go overseas for treatment again.
“It was scary, not knowing why I was so ill and being surrounded by people who couldn’t understand me, and who wouldn’t treat me without me agreeing to pay.
Rachel and her ex Sefkan[/caption]
With her granddaughter[/caption]
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