Face Transplant Success! Most Extensive to Date Sets New Standards of Care

The most extensive face transplant to date has officially been completed. NYU Langone Medical Center has announced the success of a face transplant that sets new standards of care in this emerging field.

The surgery is the first of its kind to be performed in New York State, and lasted a total of 26 hours. It involved a team of more than 100 physicians, nurses, technical and support staff. In all, the team worked in two adjoining operating rooms. In one room, the donors face was procured and in the other, the recipient's face and scalp burn was removed before the transplant took place.

The recipient was actually a volunteer firefighter by the name of Patrick Hardison. He was injured in September 2001 after entering a burning home on a rescue search. The roof of the home collapsed, which left him with disfiguring burns across his entire face, head, neck and upper torso. He lost his eyelids, ears, lips, most of his nose as well as his hair, including his eyebrows. After undergoing more than 70 surgeries, he was still unable to return to a normal life.

Now, he has another chance with the surgery. His new face had color, which means that circulation had been restored, and the hair on his scalp began growing make immediately. He was also able to use his eyelids to blink on the third day of recovery. Just three months after the surgery, he's quickly returning to the routines of daily life independently.

Patrick will continue to undergo treatment in the months to strengthen muscles and make sure the surgery is a success. So far, though, it seems as if the face transplant is a huge achievement, and could be the future for further face transplants.

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