Mum-of-four wins dentist’s fairytale makeover

A mum-of-four who twice fought cancer and was left scarred from the experience has won a prize of a life-changing makeover, thanks to the daughter who nominated her.

Phyllis Samuels, 52, from Fairfield, Stockton-on-Tees, was announced winner of the Dream Image North East competition last week – a campaign that was the brainchild of dentist Mike Heads and Paul Baguley, a consultant plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon.

Phyllis was chosen by the public because of the hardships she had been dealt as a child and in later life.

Daughter Rebecca felt it was time for her mum to be rewarded for her dedication to other people, dealing with her own health challenges and for her troubled start in life.

Phyllis was brought up in the care of the local authority and had a very unsettling upbringing in care homes and orphanages.

Although some of her needs were met, care and attention to brushing her teeth were neglected; she now has badly discoloured teeth and a mouthful of fillings as a result.

She has also had cancer on two occasions, both leaving scarring to her mouth, nose and cheek and daughter Rebecca said her mum ‘would love cosmetic treatment’.

Phyllis is the full-time carer for her mum and brother as well as bringing up three children on her own – which has meant her own needs have been neglected.

Phyllis says: ‘As a mum of three grown-up children – 30, 25 and 20 – as well as a 10-year-old daughter, I constantly get confused as her grandma whether it be in the school playground or out and about. It would be great to think of having a possible transformation so for once I may be correctly identified as mummy to my 10-year old-daughter.’

Phyllis was announced as winner at a ceremony last Tuesday (10 May).

She will now embark on a course of dental and cosmetic treatments, skin and beauty therapies, hair, make-up, fitness and dietary advice worth tens of thousands of pounds – it is anticipated the complete makeover will be completed in 9-12 months.

Mike Heads, principal dentist at Cleveland Cosmetic and Dental Implant Clinic who will be looking after Phyllis’s dental care says: ‘Phyllis is really unhappy about her teeth and needs fairly intensive work to achieve the smile she would like.

‘Treatment will involve periodontal work, tooth whitening, three dental implants, replacement of crowns, replacement of amalgam fillings for tooth coloured fillings and possibly veneers on some teeth. The treatment plan is not a quick fix and could take up to one year to complete. I am really looking forward to helping Phyllis in the coming months.’

Paul Baguley, consultant plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon, will be providing both face and body surgery including upper and lower eyes, resurfacing to the face, lower face/neck lift, breast reduction (following weight loss) and abdominoplasty (following weight loss).

He says: ‘Phyllis is a very worthwhile winner and the surgery involved in her makeover, both to her face and body, together with her health and fitness regime, will truly transform her. I am delighted to offer these treatments to her and hope she enjoys this remarkable journey.’

As Phyllis’s treatment progresses, she will be providing a continuous account of what procedures she is having done, how she feels and how she is progressing with her treatment.

Phyllis’s blog will be at www.dreamimagenortheast.co.uk.

The grand unveiling of Phyllis’s change of image will be held at a champagne reception at Rockliffe Hall and Spa, Hurworth.

Companies involved with Dream Image North East include the BMI Woodlands Hospital and A Vita Medi-Spa, Rockliffe Hotel and Spa, Designer Dental, The House, Diamond Press and Design, Impressions, Market Cross Jewellers, TFM, Happy Leaves Web Design, Gary Walsh Photography, Hooker and Young hair salon, PDS Dental Laboratory, Tees Active Limited, Nobel Biocare and Punch Robson Solicitors.

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