15-Year-Old Finds Hope After Rare Condition Surgery

When Qiao Fang was born in China's Yishan County, her parents immediately knew she would face challenges as she grew older.

Fang was born with a rare syndrome that made her face appear decades older, leading her peers to mockingly call her 'the old lady'.

The syndrome she had is called progeria, a rare genetic condition affecting one in 8 million newborns. "I never took a selfie and never let others photograph me," Fang shares now, after undergoing a special surgery that removed surplus skin layers, giving her the appearance typical of a 15-year-old girl.

A special initiative raised funds for the life-changing surgery, recently completed to the amazement of her acquaintances.

The surgery, valued at 56,000 Euros, took four hours, and its results were showcased to the eagerly awaiting community in China this week. Given the rarity of the syndrome, Fang agreed to have her story published, hoping to support others who might have similar conditions.

Her private doctor, Dr. Shi Lingzhi from the Shenyang Sunline Plastic Surgery Hospital in China, shared that several centimeters of fatty tissue were removed from Fang's face and that she received a significant discount to uplift her spirits. "Qiao burst into tears after the surgery when she saw her new reflection in the mirror."

According to local media reports, her father embraced his daughter, crying with her, and said: "Today is the happiest day of my daughter's life and ours. The night before the surgery, I slept peacefully, knowing the doctors would improve my daughter's condition and help her look like girls her age should. They saved her future," he concluded.

Spot the difference:

Before the surgery

After the surgery

In the photos: Fang with her parents at a special community event organized for her

Translated by: Shira Dabush