in a city where people will do almost anything to stand out, pat hartison just wants to blend in. >> it's really unbelievae all my daughters wouldld love it because they could shop forever. >> reporter: a loving father of five from mississippi who for 14 years now has hidden behind a hat and sunglasses. >> i'm going to have you take off your hat. >> reporter: that rest on prosthetic ears. >> take off your ear forth me for asecond. let's see how these are doing. >> reporter: pat's come to nyu medical center to undergo the most extensionve face transplant ever attempted. a medical team led by eduardo rodriguez has been preparing for this unprecedented surgery for three years. >> this is a graphic image but it gives you an understanding of everything that's going to be removed. >> reporter: he warns pat the painstaking procedure to remove his scar t tsued facend replace it with a new one could kill him. his chance of surviving just 50/50. >> the reality is we can make you much worse than you a now. and if this were noto work, we've actually made you worse so you completely understand th