How NYU docs fixed this man’s face
NYU face-transplant patient reveals new look, new life
He’s the face of success. New York doctors on Thursday unveiled the recipient of an extraordinary face transplant — a Northern California man whose procedure required a team of 100 medical professionals working for 25 hours straight.
“So far, what’s a really great accomplishment is that he has not shown any signs of rejection,” lead doctor Eduardo Rodriguez, of NYU Langone Health, told The Post of 26-year-old Cameron Underwood.
The doctor said many patients show “some form of rejection within the first 12 months, and we haven’t seen anything in Cam.”
Underwood, who suffered from severe depression, shot himself in the face in a suicide attempt in June 2016. The bullet took most of the Yuba City resident’s lower jaw, his nose and all but one of his teeth and severely damaged his maxillary region and palate.
Underwood (below right, before the tragedy )) made several at-attempts at con vent i on aln vent io n al reconstructionn surgery be-before discovering erin g Rodriguez at NYUYU Lang one Health in Manhattan. anhattan.
Now, nearlyearly 11 months afterer the NYU operation, ration, Underwood, , who was a welder and nd machinist, is working to get back the life he once knew. He is enjoying the outdoors, playing sports and spending time with friends and family. He even went skydiving. “I am so grateful to have a face transplant because it gives me a second chance at life,” Underwood said at NYU Langone alongside Rodriguez. “Even though I’m still recoveringcovering and gaining back sensation aand mobility, mostly with my lips, I’m still very happy with the results.result I have a nose and a mouth, so I’m able to smile, to speak anand eat solid foods agagain.” HHe is relearniing how to move his face and
working on his speech.
His mother, Beverly Bailey-Potter, joyfully told The Post, “We got our son back.”
Rodriguez said that he was confident from the start that he and his team could improve Underwood’s quality of life.
“For all of us, it’s really remarkable to be a part of this and make this happen,” the doctor said in a presentation at the hospital.
“There’s no way we could have ever taken him back to a normal life without a face transplant.”
Rodriguez led a team of more than 100 medical professionals to complete the operation, which began Jan. 5 and required the use of 3D computer surgical planning and a 3D-printed mask of the donor’s face — a new approach for the surgical team.
The operation was the second face transplant at the hospital and the third performed under the leadership of Rodriguez.
It’s also the first anywhere to be paid for by a commercial health insurer, the doctor said.
Due to the extent of Underwood’s injury, Rodriguez and his team had to graft the entire middle and lower components of the skull and face of the donor, 23year-old William Fisher (pictured at right) of Manhattan.
Fisher, a student at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, chess champion and aspiring writer and filmmaker, died on New Year’s Eve 2017 after a long battle with mental illness, hospital officials said.
Underwood’s procedure included transplanting and recon- structing the upper and lower jaw bones, including all 32 teeth and gums, the roof of the mouth, the lower eyelids and cheeks, and the nose and sectionsections of the nasal paspassage.
Underwoodod described how he feltt the first time he saw his new face in the mirror :“Breathtaking. re a th taking. It was overwhelming helming with excitement.”.”
He says hee is nownow hop-hoping to “get backback to work soon and somedayomeday start a family.”
His face trans plan transplant set a few records.ds.
It took aboutbout 18 months from the timeme Under-Underwood waswas wounded to undergo thee surgery, which makes it the shortest period from injury to transplant on record in the United States. The operation also marked the llongest distance traveledtrave for a face transplant,transp at 2,800 milemiles, and one of the sshortest wait times for a donor matchmatch, at six months. Fisher’s mmother, Sally, was prepresent at the hospital Thursday. “My son’s death was a tratragedy,” shshe said iin a state- ment. “I am thankful that, in honoring his decision, we were able to give life to others, and especially that Will and Dr. Rodriguez have given Cameron and his family a chance to recapture their dreams.”
“Being a part of this experience has been a source of strength for me during a very difficult time. I don’t think I would have survived Will’s death if not for Cameron,” she added. “Cameron has his whole life ahead of him — and I love the idea that Willie is helping him have a better life.”
Fisher, who registered as an organ donor in his teens, was identified as Underwood’s donor the day before the surgery.
“I will always honor Will’s legacy,” Underwood said through tears.