A prosthetic nose cultivated on a 50-year-old woman’s forearm has been successfully grafted onto her face, allowing her to regain her sense of smell after 8 years.
The woman, named Cecile, resides in Toulouse and has recently undergone surgery to implant a 3D-printed biocompatible nose.
In 2013, she was diagnosed with sinus cancer and had to undergo a nose removal surgery to prevent the tumor from spreading. Although the surgery saved Cecile’s life, it also deprived her of her sense of smell, leading to feelings of embarrassment and isolation. At that time, doctors attempted a skin graft to replace the lost tissue, but the grafts failed.
Image of the prosthetic nose cultivated on the patient’s forearm. (Photo: Toulouse Hospital)
Subsequently, specialists created a 3D-printed biocompatible nose and preserved it in cold storage until this year, when technology allowed for the nose grafting procedure. They chose to implant the biocompatible nose under the skin of her forearm, as this area has skin similar in thickness to that of the face. Cecile had to visit the hospital regularly to ensure the nose developed properly without any complications. After two months, the nose had grown sufficiently to be grafted onto her face.
To replace the skin taken from her forearm, the doctors used a graft from her thigh. The patient was hospitalized for 10 days and was placed on antibiotics.
Cecile expressed her joy at being able to smell the fragrances from her garden once again after the surgery. “I have isolated myself at home for the past 8 years. It’s miraculous; this biocompatible material was a last resort, and I am very grateful for the research and the work of the doctors that helped me restore my nose,” she said.
However, as of now, she is still unable to feel her new nose. Future surgeries are planned to address this issue.
