‘Prosthetic makes me feel I have got my face back’

Robin Fahey lost his nose, eye and upper teeth as a result of cancer

Nicola Rees/BBC A man wearing a navy blue jumper and with a white plaster on the right side of his face above the eye stands in front of a wall of pictures. Behind him are two portraits, one of the man without his facial prosthesis and one with. There are five smaller portraits of the man. — Robin Fahey lost his nose, eye and upper teeth as a result of cancer

People with facial injuries who wear prosthetics to replace features such as an eye or a nose have had their portraits unveiled in Leeds.

A group of 15 patients treated for head and neck cancer took part in research asking them to compare the comfort of prosthetics made using different methods.

As part of the study, their portraits were painted to help convey the physical and psychological impacts of their treatment.

Following the scheme, run by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Leeds, the artworks have gone on display in the Bexley Wing at St James’s University Hospital.

Robin Fahey, who had his nose, eye and upper teeth removed in 2019 due to cancer, said: “Although it’s not perfect, this is my face and I will embrace what I have and it’s up to others to embrace people like myself.

“With the prosthetic, it’s back to where people can see the person you are instead of, for want of a better word, a freak, because that’s how you feel.”

Artist Alison Murdoch said painting Mr Fahey’s portrait had been “life-changing”.

“When he first walked in he was all wrapped up, virtually disguised with glasses, hat, mask,” she said.

“He actually asked me if it was OK to take those items off, and that’s when it hit me what his reality was.”

Rebecca Fogell says she wants to see a greater acceptance of people with facial injuries

Nicola Rees/BBC A woman with long dark straight hair is wearing dark-framed glasses. Her right eye is covered over with a white bandage. She is wearing a grey blazer and a white top. Behind her are three paintings showing the woman. They are colourful. One shows her competing in sports. Another shows her holding small people. The third image can only be partially seen. — Rebecca Fogell says she wants to see a greater acceptance of people with facial injuries

Rebecca Fogell, an NHS nurse for more than two decades, noticed a small lump near her eye in 2019 and underwent scans.

After the discovery of a tumour which had grown into bone and nerves, surgeons removed her cheekbone and part of her nose, with her eye later requiring removal.

Speaking after her four-year “medical and emotional rollercoaster”, she said: “It does make me feel like I have got my face back when I look in the mirror, but I know underneath that it isn’t really me anymore.

“We want to work towards acceptance and in the real world we are not quite there yet.”

The research compared conventional and new digital methods of making prosthetics, with recent 3D scanning techniques found to be a less invasive way of capturing a patient’s face.

Artificial intelligence is then used to help reconstruct the facial feature, with the design later created with a 3D printer.

Dr Rachael Jablonski says new digital methods of creating prosthetics can make the experience more comfortable for patients

A youngish woman with straight brown hair is smiling to the left of the frame. She is wearing a white top, beige cardigan and a chain necklace. Behind her is a wall of portraits. A woman in a black jacket and with pink hair in a ponytail is walking away in the background. — Dr Rachael Jablonski says new digital methods of creating prosthetics can make the experience more comfortable for patients

Dr Rachael Jablonski, who led the study, said: “We found that 90% of patients preferred digital over conventional processes due to the comfort, speed, hygiene, and perceived positive impact on outcomes associated with digital technology.

“However, the patients were also keen to ensure they would not lose out on the skilled finishing touches from the conventional approach.”

The exhibition, called I’m Still Me, runs until 31 January.

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