A young woman who had a facelift at sixteen due to a rare condition that makes her look decades older, wants to raise awareness for others like her. Since the age of 12, Zara Hartshorn had been mistaken for a woman in her forties or fifties due to a disease she inherited from her mother. After visiting Dr Abu Garg at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre in Dallas, Texas, he found that they were suffering from a condition known as Cutis Laxa. Acceptance of her condition has made Zara turn a new corner and she’s determined to use it to help others.
Zara’s story appears on Extraordinary People, which airs on Channel 5 this Wednesday, February 15 at 10pm.