Shocking!!!!16yrs old teenager looks like 60yr old grandmother(photos)

A teenager who suffers from a rare genetic condition which makes her look middle-aged has been given new confidence thanks to pioneering facelift surgery.
Zara Hartshorn, 16, from Rotherham, south Yorkshire, had to endure years of cruel taunts and even physical abuse because of her appearance.
She inherited lipodystrophy - which makes her skin looked wrinkled and twisted - from her mother Tracey Gibson who also suffers from the illness.
But after hearing of her condition, a top surgeon in the US offered to perform cosmetic surgery for free. It has proved to be a complete success and Zara has felt able to start a relationship with new boyfriend Ricky Andrews and is even keen to go to college.

Tough: Zara Hartshorn has endured a difficult childhood suffering from a condition which makes her appear middle-aged

New start: Thanks to pioneering facelift surgery, Zara says she feels much more confident about her appearance

Found love: On top of her facelift, Zara has also met a new boyfriend Ricky Andrews

'He's seen pictures of me before and told me I was always beautiful - although I wouldn't have had the self-confidence to believe him before.'

Genetic: Zara, pictured right pre-surgery, inherited the condition from her mother Tracey, left. But sister Chloe, centre, has not been affected

'I was even mistaken for a teacher in school on a couple of occasions, which was just mortifying in front of my classmates.'
After Zara's plight was made public she was contacted by lipodystrophy expert Dr Abhimanyu Garg, from Texas, US, who asked to carry out some tests on Zara and Tracey.
The pair were found to be suffering from cutis laxa, an even rarer condition which can shorten life expectancy, weaken joints and can lung and heart problems.

Taunts: As a child, Zara was bullied by other children who called her 'monkey' and 'granny'

Although hard news to take in, Zara was later presented with the offer of a facelift and nose augmentation free of charge by top surgeon Dr Robert Ersek.
She said: 'It was an amazing opportunity that I could never of dreamed of before.
'When I saw myself in the mirror after the bandages all came off it was mixture of surprise and happiness.
'I used to hate my nose, but now I love it.'

Difficult: Zara said she was even confused as a teacher at school on several occasions, but feels much happier after her facelift with boyfriend Ricky, right