Fireman face transplant revealed! See the photos here

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The most extensive face transplant surgery in history has been performed at the New York University Langone Medical Center to give a volunteer fireman a new life.

According to New York Magazine, it was in Sept. 5, 2001, when Patrick Hardison, a 27-year-old volunteer firefighter back then, experienced a life-changing accident. While he was on a rescue-research for a woman, who was said to be inside the burning home but wasn't really there, the roof suddenly collapsed on him. This resulted in his fireman's mask to burn onto his face.

Fortunately, the young firefighter knew what to do. He held his breath and this saved his lungs. He also closed his eyes and this saved his vision. However, he was left with a severely burned upper torso, neck, head and face.

In August, almost 14 years after the accident, Hardison's face transplant surgery took place. This was not the first surgery he got to reconstruct his face. According to CBS News, he already had 71 surgeries before the most intensive face transplant.

The donor was David Rodebaugh, a 26-year-old artist and a bike mechanic. He died from a biking incident on Aug. 12 that took place on a Brooklyn Street. His bones, eyes, heart, kidney and liver were also donated to other recipients.

Two days after Rodebaugh's death, the Hardison's surgery took place. The CNN reported that the medical team who handled the face transplant took 12 hours to successfully remove the face of Rodebaugh and bring it to the operating room where Hardison is.

He received a new scalp, face, a pair of ears and ear canals. He also received chosen portions of bone from the cheeks, chin and the entire nose.

Aside from that, he can now blink and completely close his eyes as he was also given new eyelids and muscles for blinking.

It was Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez who led the face transplant surgery. He had handled previous face transplants before and according to him, Hardison's case is the most extensive one in history.

He also stated that after three months of the operation, Hardison is now doing and recovering well. He said that he is expected to be able to speak normally within six months.

The cost of the entire face transplant surgery procedure was between $850,000 and $1 million. It was paid for by the New York University.

What do you think of the surgery's outcome? Comment your thoughts below!