US man undergoes full face transplant

Fifteen years after gunshot wounds left him permanently disfigured, a US man has been given a new face, in what doctors have hailed to be the most extensive face transplant ever attempted.

Richard Norris was accidentally shot in the face almost 15 years ago. Although he survived the incident, he has been hiding behind a mask ever since, too ashamed to show what is left of his face.

Norris underwent surgery at the University of Maryland where surgeons performed a full face transplant.

Other than the new face, which was provided by an anonymous donor, surgeons also gave Norris a new tongue, teeth and jaw in the 36-hour operation.

Al Jazeera’s Stefanie Dekker reports.