Listen to Story A US man underwent a successful face transplant at Mayo Clinic which lasted more than 50 hours. A medical team of at least 80 healthcare professionals, including surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, technicians, assistants and other specialists were involved in the surgery. Derek Pfaff, 30, from Michigan, US, can now blink, swallow, smile and breathe through his nose for the first time after 10 years following his suicide attempt on March 5, 2014.
According to Mayo Clinic, David Pfaff tried to commit suicide during his college years as he was "under a lot of pressure." Despite going through 58 reconstructive facial surgeries in the past years, he was unable to eat solid food or speak properly with his friends and family. Without his nose, he couldn't wear his glasses.
David Pfaff tried to commit suicide during his college years as he was "under a lot of pressure." (Photo: Mayo Clinic) "I lived for a reason. I want to help others," Pfaff said.
"I am so grateful to my donor, his family and my care team at Mayo Clinic for giving me this second chance." In the 19 years since the first face transplant, over 50 such procedures have been performed globally, with encouraging outcomes, as highlighted by a recent study in JAMA Surgery . Mayo Clinic completed its first face transplant in 2016.
HOW WAS THE SURGERY PERFORMED? The face transplant surgery was performed in February 2024 led by Dr. Samir Mardini, a facial reconstructive and facial reanimation surgeon of Mayo C.