Artificial Breasts Made of Jewels... "Gained a Second Heart"

A Woman with Poland Syndrome Finds Confidence
Unable to Undergo Traditional Surgery, She Tries a New Approach

A woman in her 20s from China, who was born with one side of her chest underdeveloped due to a rare disease, has recently started to accept herself after wearing an artificial breast made of jewelry.

Chinese woman Xuan Zai, who wears a jewel-made prosthesis due to 'Poland syndrome.' Jewel designer Eve Min Social Networking Service (SNS) capture

On the 10th, the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported the story of Xuan Zai (22), who suffers from the rare disease called Poland Syndrome. Xuan was born with Poland Syndrome, a condition where the chest muscles and limbs on one side of the body do not develop properly. Poland Syndrome occurs in about 1 in 30,000 newborns and is 2 to 3 times more common in males than females. It is known to be caused by disruption of blood flow through the subclavian artery around the sixth week of fetal development, leading to hypoplasia of the tissues supplied by this artery. Although it does not affect life expectancy, depending on the severity, it can cause breathing problems or lead to a lack of confidence due to physical appearance issues, prompting some to undergo reconstructive surgery to improve their condition.

Xuan revealed that she lost self-esteem when she realized as a child that she looked different from her classmates. She recalled, "I tried to make my chest look symmetrical by putting pads or cloth inside my bra, and I habitually slouched to hide the abnormality." She also shared that friends sometimes mocked her for growing up in a single-parent household, and she was hurt when she heard, "My father said he left me because of my disability."

Eventually, Xuan underwent breast reconstruction surgery in her teens, but it ended in failure. She then wore a plaster corset for three years, but due to rib deformities, she sometimes found it difficult to breathe. Fortunately, when she entered university, she met friends who respected diversity and accepted her as she was. In 2022, she met Eve Min, a jewelry brand designer who creates artificial body parts for deformity correction. Thanks to this, she was able to wear an artificial breast made of pink and silver jewelry.

Chinese woman Xuan Zai wearing a jewelry-made prosthesis due to 'Poland syndrome.' Photo by Pengpai News

Regarding the custom-made jewelry breast for her right side, Xuan said, "Because of my slim build, I couldn't have surgery to fill my chest with fat, but thanks to this jewelry breast, I have regained my confidence." She added, "I'm no longer afraid to wear sleeveless clothes." She emphasized, "Before meeting this brand, I thought my deformity was just a disease that needed correction. Now, I have gained a 'second heart.' I hope everyone with the same condition can have hope and courage."

Local netizens showed support for Xuan with comments such as, "My daughter also has Poland Syndrome. I see my daughter in you. I hope my daughter can be as great as you when she reaches her 20s," and "Your sparkling 'second heart' looks like your future."

Meanwhile, last year, the story of a British woman in her 20s with the same syndrome also gained attention. Rebecca Butcher (27) from the UK has a D-cup right breast but an A-cup left breast. She said, "I had the opportunity to have breast reduction or implant surgery, but I declined," and stated that she accepted herself as she is. She works for a UK Poland Syndrome charity and has also become a fashion model after getting a chance to appear in advertisements for a well-known household goods company.