Isabelle Dinoire, the first person to receive a face transplant, said ‘I now have a face like everyone else’ in her first news conference held today in Amiens, France.
Isabelle had a face transplant in November, 2005.
In the news conference, she thanked the family of the donor who gave her new lips, a chin and a nose. She said a door to the future is opening now that she has a face again.
Isabelle’s speech was not easy to understand as she still finds it difficult to move her mouth. She has a large scar around her face. Her operation had lasted over 15 hours.
Isabelle says she is gradually regaining sensation on her face and mouth. During the news conference she was still clearly having difficulty moving her mouth. She says she is now able to feel her lips and open and close her mouth, she is also able to eat.
In May last year Isabelle’s face was severely disfigured when her dog mauled her while she was asleep as a result of a suicide attempt (drug overdose). The theory goes that the dog was trying to revive her – which it apparently managed to do. The dog was later put down, against the family’s wishes.
Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today