Face and Double Hand Transplant Journey: Joe Dimeo's Story

Video Description

A 22-year-old from New Jersey received the world’s first successful face and double hand transplant at NYU Langone Health. In July 2018, Joe DiMeo survived a horrific car crash that left him with third-degree burns covering over 80 percent of his body. Despite undergoing approximately 20 reconstructive surgeries, DiMeo had extensive injuries on his face and hands that affected his vision and severely limited his ability to live a functional and independent life. On August 12, 2020, a team of more than 140 health care professionals was led by Eduardo D. Rodriguez, MD, DDS, the Helen L. Kimmel Professor of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, chair of the Hansjörg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery at NYU Langone, to complete the historic procedure. DiMeo is Dr. Rodriguez’s fourth face transplant patient, but this is the first hand transplant under Dr. Rodriguez’s direction. Advanced surgical planning and treatment plans for Dr. Rodriguez’s transplant recipients have resulted in some of the best aesthetic, functional, and medicinal outcomes, which have been extensively reported on. DiMeo continues to progress in his recovery and is incredibly grateful for what his donor and the donor’s family have done for him during their own time of great difficulty. Learn more about Joe’s story: https://nyulangone.org/news/nyu-langone-health-performs-worlds-first-successful-face-double-hand-transplant Learn more about Joe’s surgery: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NV7p4Mdh7xk&feature=youtu.be Learn more about NYU Langone’s Face Transplant Program: https://nyulangone.org/locations/face-transplant-program Learn more about Dr. Rodriguez: https://nyulangone.org/doctors/1164462867/eduardo-d-rodriguez