The man printed part of the face on a 3D printer

Thanks to 3D printing technology, Eric Moger, a restaurant manager from Britain, got a chance for a normal life.
4 years ago, doctors found in him a huge malignant tumor, actively progressing under the skin. The operation to remove it deprived the man of almost the entire left side of the face, including the eye, cheekbone and most of the chin, leaving a gaping void in their place.

Nicholas Kalavrezos, the surgeon who removed the tumor, recommended Dr. Andrew Dawood, a dental surgeon and implant specialist. Dawood has already experimented with 3d printing to create prosthetic jaws for patients and agreed to create a facial prosthesis for Mr. Moger, using computed tomography data and three-dimensional face scan results.
First of all, using the technology of 3d-milling, a titanium frame was created, replacing the missing bones. It was securely fastened to the remaining bones with the help of five-centimeter screws created in the same way.
Then a plastic plate was implanted into the patient’s mouth, which served as a lip and allowed him to eat normally. A mirror image of a three-dimensional model of the surviving half of the face was used to print a nylon overlay. This pad is used as the basis for a silicone mask, fixed with magnets, which makes it easy to remove it at night. In the future, Dr. Dawood hopes to improve his technology and print a ready-made mask that does not require a base. This would allow those in need to get their dentures faster.
“I was amazed at how he looked,” said Mr. Moger. “When I took it in my hand, it was like looking in a mirror in my hands.” When I first put it on, I could not believe how good it looks. I used to have to support my jaw with my hand in order to speak normally, and when I tried to drink, the fluid was constantly spilling. When I drank the first glass of water with a prosthesis, nothing spilled - and it was amazing. ”

Via Sydney Morning Herald