Face transplant surgeries are never easy, they require long hours with many surgeons working together to make it happen. Imagine having to adjust to a new face not only physically but also adjusting to it psychologically. These set of events were put in motion for Connie Culp when her husband fired a shotgun to her face during an attempted murder-suicide in 2004. The blast of the shotgun destroyed Culp’s cheeks, nose, roof of her mouth and right eye. Following 30 prior operations, Culp underwent her face transplant in December of 2008. A team of doctors worked together through the 22-hour surgery which replaced 80% of Culp’s face. Following the transplant Culp was able to breathe on her own and eat solid foods. Her facial expressions were a bit stiff which made her speech sometimes difficult to understand. In 2010, Culp underwent a final facial surgery where she regained movement to her face. Facial nerve regrowth allowed her to feel touch to the face, smile, and her speech is now easily understood. "I can smell now," Culp told CNN in 2010, "I can eat steak, I can eat almost any solid foods - so it's all getting better." By @plasticsurgery _____________________________________________ #plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #cosmeticsurgeon #aestheticsurgery #aestheticsurgeon #reconstructivesurgery #facetransplant #facetransplantsurgery #survivor #beforeandafter #facialsurgery #boardcertifiedplasticsurgery #boardcertified #realresults #medicaltalks #loveyourlook #bestofthebest #plasticsurgeryinstagram #plasticsurgerycontentnetwork #facialsurgeon #reconstructivesurgeon #reconstructivesurgerybeforeandafter #surgeonswhospecialize #medicalstudent #instagramplasticsurgery #yourbodyyourchoice #medicalpedia #dentalrepost