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Health & Wellness
Facing the public
Connie Culp shows off the results of the first face transplant in the U.S., a procedure done at the Cleveland Clinic.
/ 6 PHOTOS

In this undated photo from the Cleveland Clinic, the transplant team looks at a model of the patient's face during the first face transplant surgery in the U.S. on patient Connie Culp. The 46-year-old mother of two lost most of the midsection of her face to a gunshot in 2004. The initial surgery by the Cleveland Clinic team took place in December 2008. Left to right are, Drs. Risal Djohan, Daniel Alam, Frank Popay,foreground, and head surgeon Dr. Maria Siemionow (AP Photo/Cleveland Clinic-HO)
— HO CLEVELAND CLINIC
This is a CT scan photo, supplied by Cleveland Clinic, of Connie Culp, after an injury to her face led her to become the first face transplant patient in the United States, left, and after the surgery, right. Culp underwent the surgery at the Cleveland Clinic in December 2008. Culp spoke to the media at a news conference at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio on Tuesday, May 5, 2009. The 46-year-old mother of two lost most of the midsection of her face to a gunshot in 2004. (AP Photo/Cleveland Clinic-HO)
— HO CLEVELAND CLINIC
In this undated photo released, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2008, by the Cleveland Clinic doctors perform a near-total face transplant at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland. Reconstructive surgeon Dr. Maria Siemionow replaced 80 percent of the patient's face, with that of a deceased female donor. (AP Photo/Cleveland Clinic) ** NO SALES **
— Cleveland Clinic
This undated photo of Connie Culp, before the injury to her face would lead her to become the first face transplant patient in the United States. Culp spoke to the media at a news conference at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland on Tuesday, May 5, 2009. The 46-year-old mother of two lost most of the midsection of her face to a gunshot in 2004. The initial surgery by the Cleveland Clinic team took place in December 2008. (AP Photo/Cleveland Clinic-HO)
— HO CLEVELAND CLINIC
Connie Culp, who underwent the first face transplant surgery in the U.S., speaks to the media at a news conference at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, on Tuesday, May 5, 2009. The 46-year-old mother of two lost most of the midsection of her face to a gunshot in 2004. The initial surgery by the Cleveland Clinic team took place in December 2008. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
— Amy Sancetta1/6