A mom who was left with an opening in her face and minus an eye due to breast cancer has a reason to smile again. This is after she was given a prosthetic created by the use of a 3D printer and phone camera.
Denise Vicentin was so uncomfortable because of her scar. She evaded being recognized in public. Mrs. Vicentin could cry every time she saw her image in the mirror. Things have now changed as the woman says she is happy. This is after she got her missing part filled by medics. The doctors created a premiering prosthetic.
The woman lost a section of her jaw and also her right eye while battling with cancer in 2010. Due to this, she had slurred speech and difficulties. Through the years, Mrs. Vicentin was advised to get a prosthetic sculpted (handmade). But she declined since the procedure was expensive for her, £384,000.
Last year, she was referred to a group of experts at Paulista University in Sao Paulo. They made an affordable, alternative treatment.
The technique was a section of the cost. Also, they spent only ½ of the time of the conventional techniques. However, it is not clear how the mom paid the cost.
By the use of a smartphone, the medics took fifteen images of her face from various angles. The photos were utilized to create a 3-design digital print on a computer.
After that, the technicians additive manufactured a prototype prosthetic. They utilized as a prescription to create the last one from synthetic fibers, resin, and silicone.
The experts cautiously painted the prosthesis to fit the skin of Mrs. Vicentin as well as the blue-green eye. This was in a move to create a prosthesis that was life-like.
They spent 12 hours in the procedure for creating the last prosthesis. This was about half the period used by traditional techniques. However, the whole procedure was spread out over one year. The reason for this was that she had preparation surgeries.
The medics implanted titanium fasteners in Mrs. Vicentin’s eye socket. The aim was for them to support the prosthesis securely. The process was done in early December. The lady stated that she feels comfortable with the cell-sized prosthetic. She can wander around in public confidently. This is something she avoided for many years.
She also mentioned that early on when she was on a train or metro, she tried not to be attentive to the gazes. “At places like the bowling alley, I felt them looking, and the person would even leave when they saw me,” She said.
Mrs. Vicentinalso added: “It was a long time looking at a face which was missing a piece, so I am so happy. I only took it off to clean it – I even slept with it.”
The journey of this lady to restoration is not complete. She requires more treatment to recover her top lip and jaw.
30 years have passed since her ordeal began after she developed a non-cancerous tumor on the face. It was extracted two times. It, however, came back in a dangerous fashion two decades after.
