A man from Michigan has become one of only a few dozen people worldwide to undergo a successful face transplant, following a suicide attempt that left him with severe facial disfigurement. Derek Pfaff, 30, attempted to take his own life in 2014 but miraculously survived, and after years of reconstructive surgeries, he has received a life-changing face transplant at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester earlier this year.
Derek Pfaff’s face transplant, which took more than 50 hours and involved over 80 healthcare professionals, is a rare procedure, with only about 50 such transplants having been performed globally in the last two decades. Before this groundbreaking surgery, Derek Pfaff had undergone 58 reconstructive facial surgeries over a span of 10 years, but he remained unable to speak normally or eat solid food. His facial injuries, which left him without a nose, also meant he could not wear glasses, further limiting his quality of life.
The decision to move forward with a face transplant came after doctors informed Derek Pfaff’s parents that there was little else they could do to help him. Reflecting on the surgery, Derek Pfaff shared in a video released by the Mayo Clinic, “This surgery has transformed my life. I feel so much more confident. I’m going to keep sharing my story with others to help as many people as I can. I lived for a reason. I want to help others. I am so grateful to my donor, his family, and my care team at Mayo Clinic for giving me this second chance.”
Doctors reported that approximately 85 percent of Derek Pfaff’s face has been reconstructed using donor tissue, including the upper and lower eyelids, jaws, teeth, nose, cheek structure, and neck skin. The transplant has significantly improved his quality of life, restoring many functions that he had lost due to his injuries.
Derek Pfaff’s journey began on March 5, 2014, when, at the age of 19, he decided to end his life during a college spring break. He has no memory of the events leading up to the suicide attempt. His father, Jerry, found him lying in a snowbank near the garage, after discovering the family’s gun cabinet open. He was rushed to the hospital where he regained consciousness but faced a long and uncertain recovery. “We met with the doctors, and they told us that there was no way Derek was going to make it,” his mother, Lisa, recalled.
Derek Pfaff’s recovery and face transplant represent a remarkable comeback, giving him a new lease on life and the ability to help others through his story.
