Surgeons have rebuilt the jaw of a cancer survivor with fat from his back.
Lorenz Dries’ face had been partially removed by surgeons and blasted with radiation and chemotherapy in order to save his life in 2012.
But the 29-year-old from Antwerp, Belgium, was left with a disfigurement after several attempts to reconstruct the right side of his jaw failed.
His recovery was further hampered when he got cancer for the second time in 2015, which he successfully beat.
Last month, he had fat taken from his lower back and injected into his cheek to restore his appearance.
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Mr Dries said: ‘In my recent surgery, last month, I’ve had liposuction to take some of the fat in my lower back and use it to fill the one side of my face.
‘It’s unsymmetrical and unbalanced, not as round as it should be, you can see there’s a lot of tissue missing and it will make my face more aesthetically pleasing.
‘I have a facial difference but there are a lot of healthy people who don’t feel good enough or good looking enough, so if I can be happy and successful why can’t they.’
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Mr Dries has now channelled his energy into fitness, which helps him deal with what he has gone through.
He did admit some people were still ‘scared’ of him and confused his facial deformity for a wound.
He added: ‘I’m a tall 6ft 5 guy, go to the gym so a lot of people make negative assumptions about me.
‘It can make it hard to get to know people, but others are friendly, I’m a confident, outgoing person so I try not to let it bother me.’
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Mr Dries is now trying to motivate others through his YouTube channel.
He said: ‘There were definitely times when I could have given up but I’m glad I didn’t, I kept fighting and if I can be successful in this society, then why can’t you.
‘I learned that confidence starts with self-love, loving yourself first, you have to be selfish in some manners by putting yourself first but it helps you to grow and be a better person.’
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