Burn Victim Speaks On Being The First Black Person With A Full Face Transplant

A 73-year-old burn victim is making a documentary as the first Black person with a full-face transplant.

A 73-year-old burn victim from California has been living in his truth with an entirely new face. Robert Chelsea shared how an innovative surgery has changed the trajectory of his life following a severe tragedy.

Chelsea was left with burns all over his body in 2013 after a drunk driver crashed into his car, which caught fire immediately. Although he was able able to escape and save his own life, his physical presence was left “mangled.”

“My lips burned off and part of my tongue as well,” he told NBC Miami. “The impact of my car and his truck, my car went up in the air, came down, and a couple of seconds later, blew up. I was all mangled. I looked like a Halloween mask before.”

Chelsea was left to deal with this condition until 2019, when he was able to fly to Boston for a revolutionary surgery that would result in a brand-new face. BBC News covered his story on the procedure that took 16 hours and used another person’s facial features, including nose, cheeks, and lips, to create the look.

He is currently in South Florida to shoot a documentary on his journey with a full-face transplant. While he had to endure multiple procedures in his healing process, alongside therapy and daily medications, he remains grateful for the opportunity to live and tell his story.

He is also using his voice to advocate for transplant surgeries, noting that he has been “enlightened” by the opportunity not to be marked by his burns.

“I have been enlightened, my life has been enhanced,” Chelsea said. “This having a face transplant is one aspect of something new and great that can help so many people.”

As Chelsea continues to film his life’s journey, he is still raising money to cover ongoing costs for his postsurgery needs. Additional information can be viewed on his website for those who wish to learn more about his story.