“It’s a funny thing coming home. Nothing changes. Everything looks the same, feels the same, and even smells the same. You realize what’s changed, is you.” says Brad Pitt as Benjamin Button. This is the story of Aditya Sharma, who was changing differently and faster than his peers in his class, all alone. He was suffering from a rare aging disease, Cutis laxa, means ‘Loose Skin’ and started looking ‘Old’ even while he was in his teens. This young lad, a budding fast bowler from Chandigarh, would always be an outcast in his class due to his mature looks. His own classmates would call him ‘Sir’ or ‘Uncle’ to tease him. This made him a loner and he would just concentrate on his bowling, day in and day out. Even while playing cricket, some doubts were raised about his age during selections due to his ‘aged looks’.
After visiting many hospitals and not getting any relief of his disorder, Aditya finally came to Fortis Hospital Mohali to meet Dr K M Kapoor, Senior Consultant, Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, after hearing about him. Dr Kapoor, after detailed examination and study of records and family history, diagnosed him to be suffering from a rare disorder, Cutis laxa, Autosomal Dominant variant. As there is no permanent cure for this disease, the only possible treatment was to reverse the age related changes on his face. Hence a face and neck lift surgery was performed on him by Dr K M Kapoor at Fortis Hospital, Mohali, to make him look young again. Generally face and neck lift surgery (Rhytidectomy)
Technically known as a Rhytidectomy (literally, surgical removal of wrinkles), Face and neck lift surgery is a type of cosmetic surgery procedure used to give a more youthful appearance. It usually involves the removal of excess facial and neck skin, with or without the tightening of underlying tissues, and the redraping of the skin on the patient’s face and neck . In facelift, an incision is made in front of the ear extending up into the hairline. The incision curves around the bottom of the ear and then behind it, usually ending near the hairline on the back of the neck. After the skin incision is made, the skin is separated from the deeper tissues with a scalpel or scissors (also called undermining)
After surgery, his prominent nasolabial lines or laugh lines were treated with Juvederm filler injection and Botox injection was given for Chin ‘Dents’ and ‘crow’s feet’ lines. The Juvederm and Botox treatment was expensive for Aditya’s family to afford but it was sponsored free by its manufacturer, Allergan, after coming to know of his story.
Aditya’s parents are happy now that he does not have to deal with mental trauma due to his aging disorder. Now he is back to his first love, Cricket with full vigor and focus to emulate feats of his favorite cricket player, Ishant Sharma. Next in the pipeline for him is Autologous Stem cell injection in the face for volume replacement in next stage with the expected help of an overseas support group.
Cutis laxa (CL), or elastolysis, is a rare, inherited or acquired connective tissue disorder in which the skin becomes inelastic and hangs loosely in folds. Cutis laxa (elastolysis)
Dr K M Kapoor is a Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon and currently a senior consultant in the Cosmetic Surgery Division at Fortis Hospital, Mohali and Chandigarh, a leading hospital of North India. He is an MBBS and MS (General Surgery) from Govt. Medical College, Punjabi University, Patiala, India. He has to his credit, M.Ch. (Plastic Surgery) from Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, most prestigious Plastic Surgery training program in India. He has a professional education of Diplomate of National Board Exam (DNB) in Plastic Surgery and is an Indian National Board certified Plastic Surgeon.
