About two weeks ago, a lady who had suffered severe facial trauma got almost an entire new face at the Cleveland Clinic.
Officials today released information stating that the woman, who’s identity is not being released or even the reason how she was injured, received a new face in a “first-of-its-kind” operation that lasted 22 hours.
Basically, about 80% of her face was replaced with one donated from a female cadaver. The lady kept her original upper eyelids, forehead, chin, and lower lip only.
This was the nation’s first ever face transplant and only the fourth worldwide, however, the others weren’t as extensive as this one. This was the first to have included “bones, along with muscle, skin, blood vessels and nerves.”
She also received a nose, an upper jaw, and even some teeth.
Damn!
According to reports, her injuries were so severe she couldn’t eat or breathe on her own. She needed a special opening into her windpipe.
Dr. Maria Siemionow said after the transplant, “I must tell you how happy she was when with both her hands she could go over her face and feel that she has a nose, feel that she has a jaw.”
Surgeons added that the woman is doing well and so far is not showing signs of rejecting her new face.
Through a statement, one of the woman’s siblings said “We never thought for a moment that our sister would ever have a chance at a normal life again, after the trauma she endured. But thanks to the wonderful person that donated her organs to help another living human being, she has another chance to live a normal life. Our family cannot thank you enough.”
[Image via AP Images.]
-
Categories
