This sequence of pictures shows the remarkable progress of face transplant patient Richard Lee Norris.
Norris lost most of his upper and lower jaw as well as his lips, teeth and tongue in a gun accident in 1997.
Now 38, Norris had lived much of his life as a recluse, before receiving transplant surgery in March last year, at the Maryland Medical Centre in Baltimore.
Richard Lee Norris pictured before his accident and during the stages of his surgery
Within a week, he was brushing his teeth and shaving.
Dr Eduardo Rodriguez, who led the marathon operation says Norris’s procedure is one of the most extensive because of the inclusion of the tongue and teeth and because the incisions are farther back and less visible.
Norris now has sensation in his face, is able to smile and is regaining his speech. He is also currently studying for a online art history college course.
Norris lived much of his life as a recluse after the accident
An avid golfer and fisherman, he said: “I can now start working on the new life given back to me.”
The first full face transplant was carried out in France in 2005 on Isabelle Dinoire, who was mauled by her dog.
Face Transplant patient Richard Norris
Richard Norris(01 of24)
Richard Norris ties a fishing fly at his home in Hillsville, Va. The man whose face was disfigured by a gunshot spent 15 years as a recluse, but now the 37-year-old is doing things he never would have before. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) (credit:AP)
Richard Norris(02 of24)
Richard Norris ties a fishing fly at his home in Hillsville, Va. The man whose face was disfigured by a gunshot spent 15 years as a recluse, but now the 37-year-old is doing things he never would have before. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) (credit:AP)
Richard Norris, Andrew Kahle(03 of24)
Richard Norris, back right, fishes in a stream near his home in Hillsville, Va., with friend Andrew Kahle, left. The man whose face was disfigured by a gunshot spent 15 years as a recluse, but now the 37-year-old is doing things he never would have before. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) (credit:AP)
Richard Norris(04 of24)
Richard Norris fishes in a stream near his home in Hillsville, Va. The man whose face was disfigured by a gunshot spent 15 years as a recluse, but now the 37-year-old is doing things he never would have before. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) (credit:AP)
Richard Norris(05 of24)
Richard Norris fishes in a stream near his home in Hillsville, Va. The man whose face was disfigured by a gunshot spent 15 years as a recluse, but now the 37-year-old is doing things he never would have before. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) (credit:AP)
Richard Norris, Andrew Kahle(06 of24)
Richard Norris, right, shows friend Andrew Kahle, left, how to load line into a fly fishing rod at Norris' in Hillsville, Va. The man whose face was disfigured by a gunshot spent 15 years as a recluse, but now the 37-year-old is doing things he never would have before. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) (credit:AP)
Richard Norris(07 of24)
Richard Norris talks to a friend after fishing in a stream near his home in Hillsville, Va. The man whose face was disfigured by a gunshot spent 15 years as a recluse, but now the 37-year-old is doing things he never would have before. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) (credit:AP)
Richard Norris, Andrew Kahle(08 of24)
Richard Norris, left, ties a fishing fly at his home in Hillsville, Va., as friend Andrew Kahle, right, looks on. The man whose face was disfigured by a gunshot spent 15 years as a recluse, but now the 37-year-old is doing things he never would have before. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) (credit:AP)
Richard Norris, Andrew Kahle(09 of24)
Richard Norris, right, shows friend Andrew Kahle, left, how to load line into a fly fishing rod at Norris' in Hillsville, Va. The man whose face was disfigured by a gunshot spent 15 years as a recluse, but now the 37-year-old is doing things he never would have before. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) (credit:AP)
Richard Norris(10 of24)
Richard Norris looks out from the porch of his home in Hillsville, Va. The man whose face was disfigured by a gunshot spent 15 years as a recluse, but now the 37-year-old is doing things he never would have before. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) (credit:AP)
Richard Norris(11 of24)
Richard Norris completes homework for an online art history college course after visiting with doctors at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. In the 15 years between a shotgun blast that ravaged the bottom half of Norris' face and the face transplant -- considered the most extensive face transplant performed to date -- that ended a hermit-like life for him, he faced cruelty from strangers, fought addiction and contemplated suicide. Now he's starting a new life with the hope that his life path will send a message of hope to people in similar situations and encourage empathy in others. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (credit:AP)
Richard Norris, Eduardo Rodriguez(12 of24)
In this June 18, 2013 picture, Richard Norris's skin is inspected by Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, who led the surgical team that performed Norris face transplant, during a visit at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. In the 15 years between a shotgun blast that ravaged the bottom half of Norris' face and the face transplant -- considered the most extensive face transplant performed to date -- that ended a hermit-like life for him, he faced cruelty from strangers, fought addiction and contemplated suicide. Now he's starting a new life with the hope that his life path will send a message of hope to people in similar situations and encourage empathy in others. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (credit:AP)
(13 of24)
In a series of four photos provided by the University of Maryland Medical Center and a June 18, 2013 Associated Press photo, face transplant recipient Richard Norris, the recipient of the most extensive face transplant performed to date, is seen in a prom photo, from left to right, a photo taken before his face transplant, a photo made six days after the transplant and a photo made 114 days after the transplant. Norris received the transplant in a 36-hour operation in March 2012. It included the replacement of both jaws, teeth, tongue, and skin and underlying nerve and muscle tissue from scalp to neck. Norris was injured in a gun accident in 1997. (AP Photo/University of Maryland Medical Center and Pat Semansky) (credit:AP)
Richard Norris(14 of24)
In this June 18, 2013 picture, Richard Norris sits in the office of Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, who led the surgical team that performed Norris face transplant, at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. In the 15 years between a shotgun blast that ravaged the bottom half of Norris' face and the face transplant -- considered the most extensive face transplant performed to date -- that ended a hermit-like life for him, he faced cruelty from strangers, fought addiction and contemplated suicide. Now he's starting a new life with the hope that his life path will send a message of hope to people in similar situations and encourage empathy in others. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (credit:AP)
Richard Norris, Eduardo Rodriguez(15 of24)
In this June 18, 2013 picture, Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, center, who led the surgical team that performed Richard Norris face transplant, speaks with Norris at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. In the 15 years between a shotgun blast that ravaged the bottom half of Norris' face and the face transplant -- considered the most extensive face transplant performed to date -- that ended a hermit-like life for him, he faced cruelty from strangers, fought addiction and contemplated suicide. Now he's starting a new life with the hope that his life path will send a message of hope to people in similar situations and encourage empathy in others. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (credit:AP)
Richard Norris(16 of24)
In this June 18, 2013 picture, Richard Norris sits in the office of Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, who led the surgical team that performed Norris face transplant, at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. In the 15 years between a shotgun blast that ravaged the bottom half of Norris' face and the face transplant -- considered the most extensive face transplant performed to date -- that ended a hermit-like life for him, he faced cruelty from strangers, fought addiction and contemplated suicide. Now he's starting a new life with the hope that his life path will send a message of hope to people in similar situations and encourage empathy in others. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (credit:AP)
Richard Norris(17 of24)
In this June 18, 2013 picture, Richard Norris speaks with a psychiatrist during a visit to the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. In the 15 years between a shotgun blast that ravaged the bottom half of Norris' face and the face transplant -- considered the most extensive face transplant performed to date - that ended a hermit-like life for him, he faced cruelty from strangers, fought addiction and contemplated suicide. Now he's starting a new life with the hope that his life path will send a message of hope to people in similar situations and encourage empathy in others. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (credit:AP)
Richard Norris, Eduardo Rodriguez(18 of24)
In this June 18, 2013 picture, Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, who led the surgical team that performed Richard Norris face transplant, photographs Norris at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. In the 15 years between a shotgun blast that ravaged the bottom half of Norris' face and the face transplant -- considered the most extensive face transplant performed to date -- that ended a hermit-like life for him, he faced cruelty from strangers, fought addiction and contemplated suicide. Now he's starting a new life with the hope that his life path will send a message of hope to people in similar situations and encourage empathy in others. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (credit:AP)
Richard Lee Norris(19 of24)
In photos provided by the University of Maryland Medical Center, face transplant recipient Richard Lee Norris, the recipient of the most extensive face transplant performed to date, is seen a photo taken before the face transplant, left, and in a photo made 114 days after the transplant was performed. Norris, 37, of Hillsville, Va. received the transplant in a 36-hour operation in March 2012. Seven months after undergoing the most extensive face transplant in history, Norris is finally coming out of hiding. Thanks to a combination of potent medications and dogged determination, Norris is healing faster than anyone expected, according to his doctors at the University of Maryland Medical Center, where his transplant was performed. (AP Photo/ University of Maryland Medical Center) (credit:AP)
Eduardo D. Rodriguez M.D., Branko Bojovic M.D., Michael Christy M.D., Daniel Bousuk M.D., A H Dorafshar(20 of24)
Eduardo D. Rodriguez, M.D., at podium, Chief of Plastic, Reconstructive and Maxillofacial surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center, and his team, left to right, Doctors Branko Bojovic, Michael Christy, Daniel Bousuk, partially blocked, and A.H. Dorafshar, explain the most extensive full face transplant completed to date performed on Richard Lee Norris during a news conference Tuesday, March 27,2012 at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.(AP Photo/Gail Burton) (credit:AP)
Eduardo D. Rodriguez, M.D.(21 of24)
Eduardo D. Rodriguez, M.D., Chief of Plastic, Reconstructive and Maxillofacial surgery at the University Medical Center, explains the most extensive full face transplant completed to date performed on Richard Lee Norris, pictured at left, during a news conference Tuesday, March 27,2012 at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.(AP Photo/Gail Burton) (credit:AP)
Eduardo D. Rodriguez, M.D., E. Albert Reece, M.D., Stephen T. Bartlett, M.D.(22 of24)
At podium, left to right, are University of Maryland Medical Center doctors E. Albert Reece, M.D., Stephen T Bartlett, M.D. Eduardo D. Rodriguez, M.D., Chief of Plastic, Reconstructive and Maxillofacial surgery at the University Medical Center and his team as they explain the most extensive full face transplant completed to date performed on Richard Lee Norris, pictured at right, during a news conference Tuesday, March 27,2012 at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.(AP Photo/Gail Burton) (credit:AP)
Eduardo D. Rodriguez, M.D.(23 of24)
FILE - In this March 27, 2012 file photo, Eduardo D. Rodriguez, M.D., Chief of Plastic, Reconstructive and Maxillofacial surgery at the University Medical Center, explains the most extensive full face transplant completed to date performed on Richard Lee Norris, pictured at left, during a news conference at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. Norris, 37, of Hillsville, Va. received the transplant in a 36-hour operation in March 2012. Seven months after undergoing the most extensive face transplant in history, Norris is finally coming out of hiding. Thanks to a combination of potent medications and dogged determination, Norris is healing faster than anyone expected, according to his doctors at the University of Maryland Medical Center, where his transplant was performed. (AP Photo/Gail Burton) (credit:AP)
Richard Norris, Eduardo Rodriguez(24 of24)
In this June 18, 2013 picture, Richard Norris, center, speaks with Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, who led the surgical team that performed Norris face transplant, during a visit at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. In the 15 years between a shotgun blast that ravaged the bottom half of Norris' face and the face transplant -- considered the most extensive face transplant performed to date -- that ended a hermit-like life for him, he faced cruelty from strangers, fought addiction and contemplated suicide. Now he's starting a new life with the hope that his life path will send a message of hope to people in similar situations and encourage empathy in others. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (credit:AP)