It’s Been Well Worth It,” The Face Transplant Recipient Says After Showing The Miraculous Change That Has Taken Place

Cameron Underwood, a man from Yuba City, California, has shown remarkable progress less than a year after a 25-hour face transplant surgery. In June 2016, Cameron attempted to take his own life with a pistol, which resulted in severe injuries, including the loss of his nose, a significant portion of his lower jaw, teeth, and damage to his eye sockets.

Cameron’s mother, Beverly Bailey-Potter, read about Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez from the New York University Langone Medical Center in a magazine. She suggested her son undergo conventional reconstruction surgery followed by a transplant. Cameron agreed and proceeded with the treatment.

The face transplant surgery took place in January and involved a team of 100 people led by Dr. Rodriguez. Since then, Cameron has been attending monthly follow-up appointments and continuing with physical, occupational, and speech therapy. He expressed deep gratitude to Will Fisher and his family, who made a significant sacrifice by donating Will’s face. Will was working towards a career in filmmaking and writing before he unexpectedly passed away on the last day of 2017.

Cameron said, “Will and his family made an incredible sacrifice to give back to me what had been lost. That is something that won’t leave my mind. I will be forever thankful to Dr. Rodriguez and the rest of his face transplant team. Without their help, my family and I would not have been able to complete this adventure.”

Dr. Rodriguez, a Professor of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery at the University of Miami, noted that unlike most face transplant recipients, Cameron did not live with his disability for many years. This helped him avoid long-term psychosocial issues such as severe depression and substance abuse, which are common among others in similar situations. Only six months passed between Cameron being placed on the transplant list and receiving the life-changing call that an organ was available.

The surgery was considered the most technologically advanced face transplant to date due to the use of 3D-printed surgical planning. Cameron hopes his story will inspire others with serious facial injuries, offering them hope as he found from those who came before him. Despite the challenges, he believes the journey has been well worth it.