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Man gets a new face and a new life
<cite>The Sunday Telegraph </cite>
American James Maki - thought to be only the third person in the world to have undergone a face transplant - and (inset) donor Joseph Helfgot.Source: The Daily Telegraph
A MAN who was horrifically disfigured after falling on electrified rail tracks today spoke of his joy as he revealed his new look following a face transplant.
<!-- google_ad_section_end(name=story_introduction) --> <!-- // .story-intro --> <!-- google_ad_section_start(name=story_body, weight=high) --> American James Maki - thought to be only the third person in the world to have undergone the procedure - said he couldn’t wait to look in the mirror afterwards.
‘I just wanted to see what the new Jim looked like,’ said the 59-year-old from Boston.
Until the transplant, Mr Maki had lived as a recluse and battled substance abuse after losing his nose, upper lip, cheeks, the roof of his mouth in an accident four years ago, the Daily Mail reports.
But today he said: ‘I’m so happy. My life has been a journey with many ups and downs. I hope this will be a chance to start fresh'
He also revealed that when he saw his new face for the first time four days after the 17-hour transplant, he told lead surgeon Dr Bohdan Pomahac: ‘I can’t believe you made me look so close to what I used to look like.’
He also said that his daughter, who just graduated from university, cried with joy when she first saw him following the April 9 procedure.
Earlier this month the world’s second face transplant recipient, Connie Culp, revealed her new look.