Face transplant for Virginia man is lauded as most extensive in history

[flamingdem]

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/face-transplant-surgery-richard-lee-norris



A 37-year-old Virginia man severely disfigured by a 1997 gun accident has received the most extensive full-face transplant in medical history, according to University of Maryland Medical Center surgeons.

Hospital officials report that Richard Lee Norris, of Hillsville, Va., is recovering well after an amazing, medically unprecedented 36-hour surgery that not only gave him a new face—from the hairline to the neck--but also teeth, a tongue, and upper and lower jaws. (See before/after photo above, right.)

A week after the full-face operation, Norris’ improvement has exceeded his doctors’ expectations. He can open and close his mouth and is already brushing his new teeth and shaving the whiskers growing on the transplanted face. He’s miraculously regained his sense of smell, which he’d lost after the accident.

[Duer 157099]

1. Astonishing

Not only that they could do this, but that his new face looks so natural on him. Wow. Remarkable.

edit: I bet this makes the identity of the donor a little less anonymous. That's gotta be weird for friends/family of the donor...

[arcane1]

2. That is just absolutely freakin' astounding

I can't imagine what that's like for him, to have those sensations after so long.


to science!

[Loudly]

3. A link to this post should be posted in the Guns forum.

[Duer 157099]

4. How long before people start wanting this instead of facelifts?

"I think I'll have a whole new face, what have you got today?" (shells out the big bucks...)

Kind of macabre, but also kind of inevitable.

[siligut]

8. Has to take immunosuppressive drugs for the rest of his life

So it really isn't practical except in extreme cases like this man.

I hope this guy does well.

[flamingdem]

12. What was extreme during one decade

becomes commercial business the next!

We'll be chosing new faces before 2020!

[siligut]

16. This guy's foundation was ruined

His bones and muscles were misshapen. Someone who has a good foundation wouldn't need the whole face transplant, they could just have plastic surgery. I think you are kidding.

[flamingdem]

14. I agree it will happen

The face is so powerfully important that anyone who is mildly disfigured will get one.. and then it will be normal Beverly Hills business.

[frogmarch]

5. Astounding! I hope

Mr. Norris has many good years ahead of him and that he can live them happily.

I'm flabbergasted at all the procedures he endured, and that his recovery has been such a success. Wow!

[Nye Bevan]

6. Simple awesome (nt)

[Lint Head]

7. This is fascinating. Mary Shelley's story was ahead of it's time.

Of course, this man is not the Frankenstein monster but the idea of bringing back aspects of the dead is so fantastic.

[Skittles]

9. it is wonderful

this procedure is just astounding

[Auntie Bush]

10. WOW! The doctors that did that deserve an Nobel prize!

Is this 2012 or 2112?

[sadbear]

11. I wonder what they did with his old face

Curiosity killed the cat, right?

[jberryhill]

17. There was a comedian that made that face

His name escapes me now, but that was one of his signature facial expressions.

[fascisthunter]

13. that is incredible!

[Posteritatis]

15. That's stunning enough right now; can't imagine in, say, five years. (nt)

[tblue37]

18. Just wow! I am thrileld for him--his life must have been

so difficult since the accident. But I am also thrilled because every time they succeed at soemthing like this, they create new options for helping others in the future.

He and his loved ones must be overwhelmed with gratitude and relief.

[Glimmer of Hope]

19. He looks great!

[Duer 157099]

20. I hope the Discovery channel had cameras rolling during the operation

I would LOVE to see how they performed this.

And who pays for this sort of thing? It's got to be incredibly expensive. Maybe the Discovery channel.

[emilyg]

21. Awesome results.