Piece by Piece: Facial prosthetics help cancer survivors regain their quality of life

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Piece by Piece: Facial prosthetics help cancer survivors regain their quality of life
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Medical Arts Prosthetics is helping cancer patients regain their quality of life one procedure at a time. Here's why one man says the clinic gave him a second chance at life.

Jason BealMaddie Singer, a certified anaplastologist with Medical Arts Prosthetics, helps patients regain their identity and improves their quality of life.Anaplastology is the replacement of parts of the face that have been surgically removed because of cancer or traumatic injury.

Zaida, one of Nelson's seven daughters, says they always noticed that their dad had a mole on his upper lip, just below his nose. "Before he had gone through this," said Zaida. "He would always mess with us and just joke and had this different aura. And then this happened." Nelson revealed to his daughter that people have even reported him to the ride-sharing apps because they thought he was on drugs, something he vehemently denies ever doing at any point of his life.

Anaplastology is the artificial replacement of the nose, eyes, ears, or even fingers and toes, using materials such as silicone, blending artistry with modern technology to rehabilitate a patient's disfigurement due to cancer or trauma. As Maddie applies the compound to Nelson's face for the impression, Zaida calmly reminds him to relax and breathe slowly.

These six anaplastologists are based throughout the country, with satellite offices in other regions as well, making them available to just about anyone in any part of the country with a little bit of travel. This is a technique Maddie is familiar with, because it's one that's been used in the film industry to create special effects makeup, something Maddie did professionally for over a decade.

"So, I ultimately ended up working for the man who inspired me to get into this field to begin with," she says. The following day, Maddie explains to Nelson and Zaida that she will be using the mold of Nelson's face to create the wearable prosthetic out of silicone. But first, Maddie must find the "intrinsic color" of Nelson's skin tone.Matching the underlying color of Nelson's skin tone will ensure the prosthetic will blend seamlessly with the rest of Nelson's face.

"That spatter, the natural spatter we have in our face," she said. "That's called mottling. We replicate the mottling, as well. Some people replicate the mottling in different ways, I do it in kind of an old special effects way. I actually use toothbrushes." "As an anaplastologist going on 20 years now," says Maddie. "What I've realized is that the prosthetic itself is kind of like a totem. It kind of represents everything that's preventing them from moving on."

After some time adding details like blemishes and age spots, Nelson's new nose is indistinguishable from the rest of his face. As he looks at himself in the mirror, he can't believe what he sees."Thank you, Maddie," Nelson adds in English.

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