Australian Nurse Empowers Others to Pursue Plastic Surgery Abroad After Her Own Experience in Turkey

Queensland, Australia - From hospital wards to recovery lounges, Shanon Sarah has worn many hats: nurse, patient, advocate-and now, guide. The 47-year-old from Queensland, Australia is using her own story of transformation to support others on their personal journeys, leading groups of women from Australia to Istanbul for life-changing aesthetic treatments.

After undergoing a facelift procedure at Istanbul-based MCAN Health, a medical travel provider known for its international patient care, Shanon began sharing her experience; not just the surgery, but the emotional reset that came with it. What followed was a wave of interest from others, many of them women who had quietly considered similar procedures but lacked the confidence to go alone.

Now, Shanon has become something more than a former patient. She's a motivator of life and change by escorting others on their own healing journeys.

From Trusted Voice to Trusted Companion

Shanon is no stranger to the public eye. Her health journey, marked by a breast cancer diagnosis, garnered national attention in Australia after she chose to document her experience openly on TikTok. From chemotherapy and surgery to the raw emotional toll of illness, she shared it all with honesty and courage. Her blend of vulnerability and humour struck a chord with tens of thousands, turning her into a relatable and resilient voice in the cancer community.

Her platform became a space not just for storytelling, but for solidarity. Women going through their own diagnoses found comfort in her updates; others saw in her the strength they needed to begin their own fight.

But Shanon's story didn't end with remission. After years of physical and emotional upheaval, she sought something that felt entirely her own: a facelift procedure; a decision rooted in personal agency and self-reclamation.

"It wasn't about looking younger," Shanon shares. "It was about feeling aligned with who I am again. After everything I'd been through, this was something just for me."

She travelled to Istanbul and underwent surgery at MCAN Health, a leading international medical travel provider. The experience, she says, was more than she had expected both medically and emotionally. It became a powerful chapter in her healing journey, and ultimately, a turning point that would open the door for others to follow.

A New Role: Supporting Others Abroad

Soon after returning to Australia, Shanon began receiving messages from women, many of them strangers, asking about her experience. They weren't just curious about the procedure, but about the logistics, the safety, and whether it was truly possible to trust care abroad.

Recognising a gap between curiosity and action, Shanon stepped in; not as a coordinator or agent, but as someone who had walked the path herself. She began organising and escorting small groups of patients to Istanbul, helping them navigate the journey with support, honesty, and lived experience.

"I'm not here to convince anyone to do something they don't want to do," she says. "But I am here to say: if this is something you've dreamed about, you don't have to face it alone."

Shanon now accompanies groups of women and men at a time, ensuring they feel emotionally supported, culturally oriented, and clinically informed every step of the way.

Istanbul: A Growing Destination for Aesthetic Care

At the centre of these journeys is MCAN Health, a reputable medical travel provider based in Istanbul that specialises in plastic surgery, dental aesthetics, hair transplants, and bariatric treatments. With international accreditation, multilingual teams, and a structured aftercare system, MCAN Health attracts thousands of patients from across Europe, the UK, and Australia each year.

"They made me feel like a person, not a case," Shanon says. "I was listened to. Cared for. Safe."

According to the company CEO Gülsultan Doğan, Shanon's journey reflects a new kind of medical travel story that is rooted not just in transformation, but in community.

"We see many patients who come to us through word-of-mouth, but what Shanon is doing goes beyond that. She's creating emotional and practical support systems that amplify patient trust and comfort," Gülsultan Doğan said.

Beyond the Procedure: A Journey Back to Self

Shanon continues to share her journey with the same openness that first drew others to her. Her posts are not just about procedures or results, but about the real, often tender moments in between; navigating airports with nerves, comforting anxious patients, and finding stillness in recovery.

Her message is simple, yet powerful: it's okay to want change. It's okay to care for yourself deeply. And it's okay to ask for help when you're unsure how.

Through her growing online community and the quiet ripple of stories she helps shape, Shanon is gently dismantling the fear and stigma that still surround cosmetic surgery, especially for those who have lived through illness, loss, or years of feeling invisible in their own skin.

"This isn't about chasing perfection," she says. "It's about finding your way back to who you are and who you've always been even if life tried to take that from you."

Looking Ahead with Grace

With more trips planned for the future, Shanon's work continues to unfold. Her inbox remains full; men and women reaching out not with polished plans, but with quiet hope. Hope for change, for courage, for someone who understands.

As she prepares to accompany her next group to Istanbul, she reflects not on the surgeries themselves, but on the tears of relief, the laughter in waiting rooms, the soft glow that comes when someone starts to feel whole again.

"To see someone who arrived unsure, holding doubt and to watch them leave standing taller, smiling from somewhere deeper... That's what stays with me," she says.

MCAN Health
Levent Mah. Levent Cad. Alt Zeren Sok, No:5/A 34330 Beşiktaş, Istanbul / Turkey
info@mcanhealth.com
+90 850 255 62 26

About MCAN Health

MCAN Health, based in Istanbul, Turkey, is an internationally recognized medical travel company offering advanced treatments, including hair transplant in Turkey, plastic surgery, dental care, and weight-loss procedures. Known for combining medical expertise with a patient-centered approach, MCAN Health has become a trusted name for individuals seeking high-quality care abroad.

Accredited by TEMOS and supported by a multilingual team, MCAN Health is dedicated to delivering exceptional experiences. With transparent pricing and comprehensive aftercare services, the organization places patient satisfaction and well-being at the core of its mission.

https://www.mcanhealth.com/

This release was published on openPR.