http://www.smh.com.au/data-point/people-used-to-stare-at-my-disfigurement-now-they-can-stare-in-amazement-20121019-27wmd.html
People used to stare at my disfigurement. Now they can stare in amazement' Date October 20, 2012 WASHINGTON: A man who spent 15 years as a recluse after suffering injuries in a gun accident says his life has been transformed by a facial transplant. Richard Lee Norris, 37, received the full face transplant in a 36-hour operation in March. It involved replacing both jaws, teeth, tongue, skin and underlying nerve and muscle tissue from his scalp to his neck. Now, seven months on, doctors say he eats primarily by mouth and can taste and smell. ''For the past 15 years I lived as a recluse, hiding behind a surgical mask and doing most of my shopping at night when fewer people were around,'' Mr Norris said. ''People used to stare at me because of my disfigurement. Now they can stare at me in amazement and in the transformation I have made. I am now able to walk past people and no one even gives me a second look. WASHINGTON: A man who spent 15 years as a recluse after suffering injuries in a gun accident says his life has been transformed by a facial transplant Richard Norris shown now, during his recovery and before his face transplant seven months ago after he was injured in a 1997 gun accident. ''My friends have moved on with their lives, starting families and careers. I can now start working on the life given back to me.'' Mr Norris continues to gain sensation in his face and is able to smile and show expression. His doctors say the motor function on the right side of his face is about 80 per cent normal and on the left side about 40 per cent. Mr Norris's operation is the 23rd face transplant since doctors began doing the procedure seven years ago. The transplant was carried out by more than 150 doctors, nurses and other staff, under the professor of surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Eduardo Rodriguez. ''Our goal for Richard from the beginning was to restore facial harmony and functional balance in the most aesthetic manner possible through the complex transplantation of the facial bones, nerves, muscles, tongue, teeth and the associated soft tissues,'' Professor Rodriguez said. ''Richard is exceeding my expectations this soon after his surgery, and he deserves a great deal of credit for the countless hours spent practising his speech and strengthening his new facial muscles. He's one of the most courageous and committed individuals I know.'' Much of the research into the technology behind Mr Norris's surgery began in response to injuries suffered by US soldiers. with Associated Press Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/data-point/people-used-to-stare-at-my-disfigurement-now-they-can-stare-in-amazement-20121019-27wmd.html#ixzz29mLwqFy0 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
