Cameron Underwood has come a long way. In June 2016, after trying to end his life by shooting himself with a weapon under his chin, his face was completely disfigured. Conventional attempts to reconstruct his face had not allowed the American to resume a normal life. He was still missing most of his lower jaw, all but one of his teeth, as well as his nose. Lesions to his upper jaw hampered his daily life.
In January 2018, the New York Langone health in the United States took care of the young American by undertaking a face transplant. A team of surgeons from this American center, the only one in New York State dedicated to facial transplantation, is performing a 25-hour operation for a major facial reconstruction. The transplant consisted of replacing a large part of the face and the upper, middle and lower jaws. More than 100 health professionals, surgeons, nurses and others take turns to carry out this exceptional operation, as explained a press release from the establishment. At the head of the team, Dr Eduardo Rodriguez, author of the first full face transplant in 2015.
“When we first met Cameron, we were confident that we could improve his appearance and, most importantly, his functions and quality of life,” said Dr Rodriguez, head of the team of surgeons in the statement. He added: “Advances in medical technology allow us to assess donors and recipients more quickly for face transplants and to perform safer and more efficient surgeries.”
40 face transplants worldwide
Eleven months after this operation Cameron is doing well.
Since the first face transplant in 2005 on the French Isabelle Dinoire who had been bitten by her dog (died in 2016), over 40 face transplants have been carried out across the world.
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