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Cameron Underwood, a 26-year-old who has had a facial transplant this year, unveiled his new smile to the world on Thursday.
In June 2016, Underwood suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to a NYU Langone Health press release, which severely damaged most of his jaw, nose, his palate and his teeth. Despite numerous attempts at conventional reconstruction, key areas of his face were still missing in Underwood.
Beverly Bailey-Potter, Underwood's mother, described Dr. Eduardo D. Rodriguez, chairman of Hansjörg Wyss's Department of Plastic Surgery at NYU Langone, and decided to contact him to get help. Underwood and Bailey-Potter then left their hometown, Yuba City, California, to travel to New York City to meet Dr. Rodriguez and his team, who would give him a face transplant that will change lives.
Dr. Rodriguez did it for his other patients. We knew that he was the only person we would trust for Cameron's life, "Bailey-Potter said in a press release. "We were willing to travel long distances."
Cameron Underwood (left) and Eduardo D. Rodriguez, MD, DDS, at the NYU Langone 2018 Face Transplant Announcement at NYU Langone Medical Center November 29, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Monica Schipper / Getty Images for NYU Langone)
On January 5th, a team of more than 100 health professionals led by Rodriguez performed an Underwood facial graft, which lasted approximately 25 hours. Underwood's facial transplant was the third facial transplant done by Rodriguez and his team who, according to NYU Langone Health, performed the largest facial transplant ever recorded in 2015.
] Since 2005, see more More than 40 facial plants have been performed worldwide and Underwood's latest surgical procedure marks a milestone in the medical procedure. Underwood received the facial transplant nearly 18 months after his self-inflicted injury, which was the shortest period reported since the original incident. According to Rodriguez, this rapid delay would contribute to Underwood's physical and emotional recovery.
"Cameron has not lived with his injury for at least a decade, as most other facial grafts do," said Rodriguez. "As a result, he has not had to deal with many long-term psychosocial problems that often lead to problems such as severe depression, addiction, and other potentially dangerous behaviors."
Unlike previous face transplantation cases Underwood had to wait only six months for a donor. His donor, William Fisher, aspiring filmmaker and 23-year-old writer, was a great match for Underwood. Family and friends remember Fisher, who resided in New York before his death, as a loving and intelligent individual.
William Fisher (Photo credit: Fisher Family)
"This experience was a source of strength for me during a very difficult time. I do not think I would have survived Will's death if it was not for Cameron, "said Fisher's mother, Sally. "Cameron has his whole life in front of him – and I love the idea that Willie helps him to have a better life."
On Thursday, Underwood thanked the medical team of Rodriguez and his donor for his second chance in life.
"Will and his family made an incredible sacrifice to restore what had been lost. I will never forget that. I am also forever grateful to Dr. Rodriguez and his facial transplant team, "Underwood told a press conference at NYU Langone Health. "My family and I could not have made this trip without them. We hope that my experience inspires hope for those seriously injured in the face, just like others who have preceded me. The trip was not easy, but it is worth it.
Cameron Underwood, his mother, Bev Bailey-Potter, and his family attend the NYU Langone 2018 Face Transplant Announcement at NYU Langone Medical Center on November 29, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Monica Schipper / Getty Images for NYU Langone)
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