In a groundbreaking medical achievement, the NHS has unveiled its first-ever 3D-printed facial reconstruction, restoring confidence and hope to 75-year-old Dave Richards, who suffered catastrophic injuries in a 2021 cycling accident.
Richards was left with severe burns and crushed bones after a drunk driver hit him, leaving him trapped beneath the vehicle. Surgeons at Bristol’s Reconstructive Prosthetics Centre performed multiple operations, including a complex free flap surgery that rebuilt one side of his face.
When traditional methods reached their limit, experts turned to cutting-edge 3D technology. Using advanced scanning and resin-based printing, specialists created a lifelike prosthetic that perfectly matched his skin tone, hair, and eye color.
“It gave me my confidence back,” Dave said. “The 3D work opened up a whole new world of possibilities.”
Senior Reconstructive Scientist Amy Davey explained that the technology allows precise customization and safer, more natural facial implants. Today, Dave continues recovery with optimism, grateful for the innovation that turned tragedy into a symbol of medical progress.
