THE 
May 6, 2009 First U.S. Face Transplant Completed
Love muffins, here is a story that is truly a miracle. We need to always be thankful for the blessings we have every day – this story touched my heart.
In 2004, a bullet wound tore away Connie Culp’s nose, cheeks and upper jaw. Metal fragments splattered into her skull, tearing her face away – only her eyes, chin and forehead remained. No doubt Connie was lucky to be alive.
Continue reading after the jump for before and after pictures.
Tuesday a press conference was held where the identity of Culp, 46, was revealed – the first U.S. recipient of a face transplant. In December, she underwent the 22-hour surgery to reconstruct her destroyed face – the surgery was announced, but her identity was kept a secret.
During the surgery, tissue from a deceased donor’s face was shaped and placed into position. Layers of tissue, bone, muscle and blood vessels, nerves were grafted, and each artery and vein were connected. Culp received the donor’s nose, lower eyelids and upper lips, as doctors filled in the missing parts of her face.
Prior to the surgery, Connie could not taste, smell or eat solid foods. All of that has changed as she now can enjoy her old favorites, hamburgers and pizza (among other guilty pleasures). Feeling is also slowly being restored in her face as the nerves slowly but surely heal and reconnect.
Connie had been shot in the face from just eight feet away in an attempted murder-suicide by her husband.
[Source]
CocktailTee
May 6, 2009 at 10:40 am
Wow! That is definitely a BLESSING! Imagine that. People knock plastic surgery sometimes, but there are plenty of stories just like this one that aren’t for vanity purposes but just quality of life.
Twanalicious
May 6, 2009 at 11:20 am
WOW!! That is truly amazing!!! Medicine has really come a long way! I hope this lady realizes the blessing from God that she has received.
justme
May 6, 2009 at 12:18 pm
God Bless her. Wow, this story touched my heart too.
mDavis
May 6, 2009 at 2:31 pm
nothing short of amazing and miraculous. For her to have a nose and lips again she must be so happy. God bless her, hope her ex is rotting in hell! cowards.
Anonymous
May 6, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Ok, serious now. God Bless her. I would like to see face transplant 50 years from now. By then they would have perfected the craft. After healing, she should get a facelift.
Lae'Rue
May 6, 2009 at 5:36 pm
That is so amazing… I thank God everyday for just waking up and still being able to talk, walk, touch, feel, everything!!!
john
May 7, 2009 at 1:43 am
when i saw this i was more interested in her story…like for example the details and the story of her and her ex husband and how the lady is doing mentally and spiritually…but when i read these comments i noticed how people were really paying attention to her face…which ofcourse is a miracle for the surgeons to perform this…but sometimes i feel like people who see others that look like this, or look worser then themselves…they tend to feel better about themselves…i mean how selfish is that…think about the lady’s well being, not your damn selves.
HoneyDip
May 7, 2009 at 3:53 am
God is so good.. I am so happy for Connie this is definitely a Blessing! This is for certain one of God’s Miracle’s
hayley
May 7, 2009 at 2:24 pm
omg she looks so gross
deedz
May 8, 2009 at 11:04 pm
Seriously, that’s so amazing. I cant believe that someone had the nerve to call her gross when it could be so much worse. Imagine if it were you…
al
May 22, 2009 at 8:30 pm
fuck you hayley, you must be dumb enough to say shes gross. stupid. i wish u were in the same condition to see what u would say. dumb ass.