Largest full face transplant is successful

A team at the Maryland medical centre have completed a 36 hour operation replacing a man's entire face, including all his teeth, jaw and tongue. This resembles the largest transplant recorded.

This is a huge benchmark for medicine, as the US is now looking for troops eligible for face transplants.

The first ever face transplant was carried out in 2005 on a woman who had been mauled by her dog.


Hidden hero


The donor who wants to remain anonymous has not only saved this man's life by donating his face, but also 5 others by donating other organs which took 72 hours for the whole procedure.

Richard lee Norris


Suffering horrific injuries in a gun accident, he lost his lips, nose and was capable of only partial movement in his mouth.

After the incident Norris cut himself off from society, never making public appearances, even doing his shopping in the evening to avoid attention.

Surgeon leader Eduardo Rodriguez: "He put the mirror down and hugged me"

"Our goal is to restore function as well as have aesthetically pleasing results" he said.

Leader Eduardo is happy than Mr Norris would get his life back

He is now already brushing his teeth and shaving regularly according to the medical centre.

He has also regained the sense of smell according to the medical centre.

This CT scan shows his skull after the accident. Surgeons carried out a number of reconstructive operations

Surgeons first removed damaged parts of the face and skin graphed areas from his forehead and other regions of Richard's body to fix his injured face

With aid of computer modelling, the surgeons were able to re construct his face, using teeth, bones and the face of his donor to transplant onto him. Nerves and underlying tissue were also transplanted so Richard could gain control over his new identity.

Richard must take anti rejection drugs for the rest of his life so that his body can adapt to his new face.