Man Receives Chimpanzee Nipples During Landmark Surgery
By Editor | March 17, 2008
An Austin, Texas man has made medical history by being the first person to receive ape nipples via surgical transplant.
William Hartwell, a 54-year-old auto mechanic from North Austin, received the nipples and areola (colored area around the nipples) of a male chimpanzee that died of natural causes. The nipples of the two species — human and chimp — are said to be surprisingly similar from an anatomical perspective.
Image: Hartwell reads well-wishes from friends after his surgery
The surgery came as the result of a rare skin condition that caused tissue damage around Hartwell’s nipples. Plastic surgeons have been theorizing about the possibility of a nipple transplant between man and beast for some time, but this is the first actual surgery where those theories have been tested.
And so far so good, says William Hartwell:
“It took some getting used to,” said the now-famous patient during a phone interview. “They look a little different from my old nipples, but I notice it less each day. I’m just happy to have nipples again, even if they did come from a chimpanzee.”
Image: A chimpanzee similar to the one used for the transplant
Hartwell’s doctors are jubilant with the success of the surgery — with the groundbreaking nature of the surgery, as well as Hartwell’s speedy recovery thus far:
“Everything is going well,” said Doctor Suri Vayenvat. “The new nipples have settled in just as we had hoped, and [Hartwell’s] body has apparently accepted the new tissue. We are thrilled with the results.”
It is not clear whether or not the man will use body contouring surgery as a follow-up to the nipple replacement.
On a separate but similar note, researchers in Korea are developing a Lasik eye surgery technique that will incorporate the lenses of fish eyes to give Special Forces scuba divers better vision underwater.
Topics: Austin News |