US Man Gets New Face After Gruelling 50-Hour Surgery Post Suicide Attempt

Derek Pfaff, a 30-year-old from Michigan, has become one of only a few dozen individuals worldwide to undergo a successful face transplant. After surviving a suicide attempt at the age of 19, Derek’s journey to recovery culminated in a life-changing, 50-hour surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester earlier this year.

Mayo Clinic shared pictures showing Derek’s pictures before and after the facial surgery.

“Surgeons performed Mayo Clinic’s second face transplant in February 2024 in a procedure that lasted more than 50 hours and involved a team comprised of at least 80 healthcare professionals,” the Clinic posted on X.

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Derek was a straight-A student and a star athlete in high school, serving as captain of his football team when they won the state championship. However, during a difficult period in college, he attempted to take his own life on March 5, 2014 after shooting himself in the face. Found by his father, Jerry, he was rushed to the hospital, where he miraculously regained consciousness.

Derek’s surgery, performed by a team of 80 medical professionals, marks a significant milestone in medical science, as fewer than 60 face transplants have been completed globally in the past two decades. Before the transplant, Derek endured 58 reconstructive surgeries over 10 years but remained unable to eat solid foods or engage in everyday conversations. His lack of facial structure, including a nose, also prevented him from wearing glasses.

The groundbreaking procedure reconstructed approximately 85 percent of his face using donor tissue. Key areas replaced include his upper and lower jaws, eyelids, teeth, cheekbones, nose, and neck skin. Reflecting on his transformation, Derek shared, “This surgery has changed my life. I feel so much more confident.”

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(Image: Mayo Clinic)

By Culture, Face Transplant, Post