Shot in the Face Part 3: Reconstructing Hope with Dr. Eric Dierks & Dr. Larry Over

An extraordinary medical journey unfolds as devastating trauma—a 17-year-old girl's shotgun blast to the face—is transformed into renewed hope through groundbreaking facial reconstruction.

Dr. Long welcomes special guests Dr. Eric Dierks, an oral maxillofacial and ENT surgeon, and Dr. Larry Over, a prosthodontist specializing in maxillofacial prosthetics. Together, they unravel the remarkable case of a patient, whose face was catastrophically damaged by a shotgun injury that destroyed her nose, eyes, and significant portions of her facial structure.

The conversation takes us through the progressive stages of reconstruction, beginning with the initial life-saving surgeries performed by Dr. Bryce Potter and team, who created a new structural foundation using bone from the patient's leg. Two years later, when the patient was still facing profound disfigurement that caused public whispers and stares, Dr. Dierks stepped in to prepare her for a prosthetic solution.

What follows is a fascinating deep dive into both the surgical and artistic elements of facial prosthetics. Dr. Dierks describes creating a nasal airway that allowed her to breathe normally for the first time in years, while Dr. Over reveals the meticulous process of crafting a silicone facial prosthesis—from creating impressions and wax prototypes to custom-matching skin tones and placing artificial eyes with perfect symmetry.

Perhaps most compelling is hearing how this medical intervention transformed not just the patient's appearance but her entire life. The magnetically-retained prosthesis allowed her to blend into society as simply a blind person rather than someone with a visible disfigurement. She later established a long-term relationship and built a fulfilling life that would have seemed impossible in the aftermath of her injury. 

This episode exemplifies the podcast's core mission: showcasing how collaborative expertise, innovative thinking, and patient-centered care can create outcomes that once seemed impossible. Listen now to discover how saving time saves lives, and how dedicated medical professionals can transform a flatline situation into a lifeline of hope. 

To learn more about these life saving strategies and techniques, look for Dr. Long’s upcoming book, Flatline to Lifeline.  

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Producer: Esther McDonald 

Technical Director: Lindsey Kealey, of PAWsitive Choices

Editing and Post Production: Adam Scott of Atamu Media Productions

© Flatline to Lifeline 2025