Overview
- Dave Richards, 75, sustained third‑degree facial burns, lost an eye, and suffered multiple fractures after a 2021 collision with a speeding drunk driver.
- He is the first publicly reported patient fitted with a bespoke facial prosthesis produced at the new Bristol 3D Medical Centre under North Bristol NHS Trust.
- The custom device matches his skin, hair and eye color, while an orbital prosthesis and 3D‑printed neck scar splints have eased scar tension and improved comfort.
- Clinicians cite dynamic surface scanning, skin‑safe resins, and materials that mimic bone, with longitudinal scans used to track healing and adjust fittings.
- The driver received a three‑year sentence and a seven‑year driving ban, with multiple reports of release after about 18 months, a reduction Richards says left him dissatisfied.