World's first full face transplant patient becomes GQ magazine star

Richard Lee Norris lost most of his face in a shotgun accident [GQ]

Richard Lee Norris, 39, underwent a complex reconstruction which involved receiving his teeth, jaw and part of his tongue from a donor.

The transplant, which came after dozens of other operations had failed to rebuild his face, also included tissue running from the neck to the scalp.

Mr Norris, from Hillsville, Virginia, spent years living as a recluse after the accident, which took place when he was 22.

In the GQ interview, he said: "When I was disfigured, just walking the sidewalk, I was surprised that more people didn't walk into telephone poles or break their necks to stare at me.

"Now, there's no one paying attention. Unless they know me personally, they don't know I am a face transplant patient. That right there is the goal we had.

"My friends have moved on with their lives, starting families and careers. I can now start working on the life given back to me."

Richard Lee Norris had a face transplant and has now appeared in GQ [GQ]

Mr Norris pictured before and after the accident [University of Maryland Medical Center]

I can now start working on the life given back to me

Richard Lee Norris

In 1997, he accidentally shot himself in the face during an argument with his mother.
But, in 2012, he underwent the most extensive face transplant ever - a 36-hour operation involving 150 medical staff at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
He was given only a 50 per cent chance of surviving the procedure.
The operation went ahead after the family of Joshua Aversano, a 21-year-old who died after being hit by a van, gave their consent for his tissue to be used.
Mr Norris is believed to be in contact with the Aversano family.

The transplant included skin from the neck to the scalp [University of Maryland Medical Center]

He will have to take immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of his life to stop the face from being rejected.
The first person to receive a partial face transplant was Frenchwoman Isabelle Dinoire, whose face was mauled by her dog after she took an overdose of sleeping pills.
The operation was carried out in 2005.