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Cameron Underwood, a 26-year-old man who had a facial transplant this year, showed his new smile to the world on Thursday.
In June 2016, Underwood was shot and wounded, which severely damaged his jaw, nose, palate and teeth, according to a NYU Langone Health press release. Despite numerous attempts at conventional reconstruction, Underwood still did not have the key areas of his face.
Beverly Bailey-Potter, Underwood's mother, heard about Dr. Eduardo D. Rodriguez, president of NYU Langone's plastic surgery department, Hansjörg Wyss, and decided to contact him for help. Underwood and Bailey-Potter then left their hometown, Yuba City, California, to travel to New York to meet Dr. Rodriguez and his team, who would give Underwood his transplanted face.
"When we learned what Dr. Rodriguez had done for his other patients, we knew that he was the only person we could trust in Cameron's life," Bailey-Potter said in a statement. press. "We were willing to travel long distances."
Cameron Underwood (left) and Eduardo D. Rodriguez, MD, DDS, speak at the NYU Langone Face Transplant Announcement in 2018 at NYU Langone Medical Center on 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 a facial transplant under Underwood, which lasted about 25 hours. Underwood's facial transplant was the third facial transplant done by Rodriguez and his team, which, according to NYU Langone Health, achieved the largest facial transplant ever recorded in 2015.
Since 2005, more than 40 facial units have been performed worldwide and Underwood's latest surgery 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 quick delay would contribute to Underwood's emotional and physical recovery.
"Cameron has not lived with his injury for a decade or more, like most other facial transplants," Rodriguez said. "As a result, he has not had to deal with many long-term psychosocial issues that often result in problems such as severe depression, substance abuse, and other potentially harmful behaviors."
Unlike previous facial graft cases, Underwood waited just six months for a donor. His donor, William Fisher, aspiring filmmaker and 23-year-old writer, was a great match for Underwood. Fisher, who resided in New York before his death, is recognized by family and friends as a loving and intelligent individual.
William Fisher (Photo credit: Fisher family)
"Being part of this experience has been 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 like the idea that Willie helps him lead a better life."
On Thursday, Underwood thanked Rodriguez's medical team and 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 was worth it. "
Cameron Underwood, his mother Bev Bailey-Potter, and his family attend the NYU Langone 2018 Face Transplant Announcement at the 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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