Facial Transplantation: Canadian hunter Maurice Desjardins becomes the oldest transplant recipient in the world

A bullet fired from a rifle during a hunting trip left Maurice Desjardins with a severely damaged face.

Despite the efforts of doctors and surgeons, who tried to rebuild his face with plates, screws and even bones from his leg, he had holes in his face instead of a nose and a mouth that it could not be fully closed.

According to the National Post, the damage did not allow him to eat normally and drool regularly, breathing through a hole in his trachea. The scar tissue and disconnected nerves in her face were causing her constant pain.

So, when Daniel Borsuk, a plastic surgeon known as a "face magician" – a facial wizard – told him he wanted to try a facial transplant, something never experienced in a patient of his age, Desjardins was receptive. at the idea, despite its many risks. "I am always judged by others. I prefer to die rather than continue to live like this, "he said before the operation, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp." I do not care what face I'm going to have, as long as I look like anything the world.

Borsuk told the Washington Post that the age of the patient is less important than the other components of the advanced and rare procedure at the forefront of medicine. More important is the physical condition of the patient and his mental preparation.

"We are looking for someone who has mental toughness, resilience and a difficult rehabilitation," Borsuk said. "And someone who understands the risks and benefits."

It took five years and hundreds of medical, technical and support staff, including a year spent seeing a Borsuk-mandated psychiatrist for his patient before complicated surgery; But in May, Desjardins received a facial transplant, in the first in Canada. At age 65, he would also be the oldest transplant recipient in the world.

The transplant, announced this week, is one of dozens of innovative procedures implemented around the world since this technique was launched in 2005 in France. Desjardins is the 41st recipient of facial transplant, reported the National Post.

[The world’s first recipient of a second face transplant? A 43-year-old who says he feels 22 again.]

Death occurs in about 16% of cases, and even if successful, they require anti-rejection drugs to suppress the immune system response, increasing the risk of diseases such as cancer, infections, and kidney disease .

At the beginning of the year, Jérôme Hamon became the first person to receive a second facial transplant after his body had begun to reject his first. Borsuk, who was part of a team of surgeons who had a facial transplant for Richard Norris in Virginia in 2012, includes Hamon surgeon Laurent Lantieri and Eduardo Rodriguez of Norris as his mentors.

The procedure has faced many more challenges in Canada than the United States, where the Department of Defense is helping to fund the astronomical costs associated with surgeries, Borsuk said.

"We do not have that kind of support," he said.

The Desjardins surgical team, including Borsuk, in the center in a white coat. (Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital)

But medical device company Johnson & Johnson has donated tens of thousands of dollars worth of plates and screws and other materials used in the process, Borsuk said.

The rest of the funding was "paid for by the company," said Borsuk – Canada's public health system.

The cost for Desjardins? "Nothing," said Borsuk. "In Canada, nobody pays for nothing. You pay your taxes that you paid.

Borsuk said that because of privacy laws in Canada, he knew very little about the donor except he was in his forties or fifties.

He said that the details of Desjardins' accident are not clear to him either. Now, his patient is recovering well, Borsuk said. According to the National Post, his face is still mostly numb and doctors are hoping his nerves are pushing back.

Borsuk said that he has several other patients who seem to be good candidates for the procedure and would like to do more.

Desjardins has never faltered because Borsuk explained the many risks at stake, including the possibility that his body rejects his face or could even lead to the loss of his life.

"He looked me right in the eye and said: Do you think I have a life right now?" Borsuk said. "He was so motivated, he took the risks. He really wanted that.

Read more:

Stephen Colbert blames Ted Cruz for "Late Show" commercials during the appearance of Beto O'Rourke

Why the Dallas officer who killed his neighbor could have problems with a "deadly force" defense