A woman who was told she was “too ugly to work” due to hundreds of facial tumours is now unrecognisable thanks to transformative surgery.
Annetjie de Wit used to be afraid to leave her home for fear of how people would react to her face.
The 59-year-old – who was often mistaken for having leprosy – was once told she was “too ugly” to work at a company she had applied to.
Now, she’s reached a new level of confidence she never thought was possible.
After undergoing pioneering treatment to burn off the lesions, Annetjie has been left unrecognisable – and she isn’t done yet.
“In two months, I’ll look even better,” she told Need To Know.
“It’s a journey. My self-confidence has steadily improved and people say I’m more outgoing these days.
“Things are starting to change now.”
Annetjie, from Pretoria, South Africa, suffers from a debilitating genetic skin condition called neurofibromatosis.
The condition causes non-cancerous tumours to grow along the nerves of the skin.
She grew up asking why her sister, Fransien Niemand, now 65, had “beautiful” skin and hers was “so hideous”.
But after nearly six decades, her nightmare was officially over after being chosen as a candidate on a television show.
She’s been undergoing treatment with Dr Riekie Smit and Dr Jurgens Grové as part of the show called Dr. Nou!
The series sees the professionals work together to improve patients’ appearance and their self-esteem.
Annetjie had various cosmetic procedures, including burning off the lesions, as well as dental work.
The lesions are now around half the size they were when she began the treatment last year in August.
She recently did a big reveal to show off her new look and was left in tears over people’s reactions.
And now, she’s found a new lease of life – so much so, she runs the kitchen and cafeteria along with her sister for a bowling club.
Annetjie added: “I take orders, help prepare food and serve the customers.
“I’m becoming less and less shy around other people and I don’t look down anymore when I greet people.
“I also go to the shops to buy supplies.
“My regulars at the bowling club might not even recognise me now.
“All I can say is it’s nice not to look completely ugly anymore.”
