Since the first face transplant in France back in 2005, more than 40 successful transplants have been completed around the world.

In June 2016, Cameron Underwood sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the face, leaving him terribly disfigured.

He was missing most of his lower jaw, his nose, and every tooth but one. He also experienced damage to his upper face and palate.

Underwood had a number of reconstructive surgeries, but they could only do so much. Then his mom read about Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, a professor of reconstructive plastic surgery and the chair of the plastic surgery department at NYU Langone Health, reports CNN.

NYU Langone Health has completed two of the procedures and has a designated face transplantation program, one of just a handful in the United States. Rodriguez completed two previous face transplants, the first at University of Maryland, and headed up a team of more than 100 medical professionals who tackled Underwood’s case.

The transplant surgery lasted about 25 hours.

This is a comparison of Underwood before and after his surgery:

The transformation is incredible.

The short waiting period between his injury and transplant – only 18 months – also sets him apart from other recipients of the procedure, most of whom have lived for up to a decade with their injuries.

Even Katie Stubblefield, the youngest person ever to receive a face transplant, had to wait three years to undergo her procedure.

The video below documents the process that led up to the transplant, as well as a post-op interview with Cameron:

Underwood will remain on anti-rejection drugs for the rest of his life, but to date has responded well to his new face.

Enjoy, buddy.

[source:cnn]