André Gayoso, a 35-year-old business owner from São Paulo, Brazil, underwent reconstructive surgery using bone from his leg to rebuild half his jaw after falling onto a metal bar while pursuing a thief who had stolen his phone. The incident left him in a coma for 13 days with a fractured lower jaw and the loss of six teeth.
The Incident
Gayoso was returning home after an evening out in October 2022 when a motorcyclist rode past and grabbed his mobile phone from his hand as he waited for an Uber. He ran after the criminal but fell face-first onto a metal bar positioned outside a shopfront during the pursuit. The impact caused severe facial injuries.
"I started walking and then waiting for my Uber and I lose my memory there walking towards the Uber," he said. "I don't remember anything afterwards, I woke in the ICU 13 days later." He added that a bartender handed him a broom handle, which he tried to use to jab the bicycle wheel, but he tripped and hit his head and chin on the metal bar.
Medical Treatment and Surgeries
Gayoso was rushed to a hospital just 600 meters away. He remained in the ICU for a week and has since undergone 11 corrective operations. His chin required reconstruction using bone and skin taken from his right leg in an 11-hour procedure after an initial skin graft from his left forearm failed. He also had prosthetic teeth fitted and three plastic surgeries to reduce the width of his mouth and improve his speech. A tracheostomy was needed for 11 months to ensure he could breathe during multiple operations.
"It was very hard. When I woke up it was very scary because I couldn't talk because I'd lost part of my jaw and mouth and I couldn't move," Gayoso said. "I'd been in the coma for 13 days, so I'd lost all muscle mass. I lost around 20kg in 13 days."
Financial and Personal Impact
The medical bills were "enormous," with major surgeries covered by his health insurance but minor treatments paid out of pocket. Additionally, his bank accounts, including crypto and a US bank account, were wiped clean, taking a month to restore. Despite the hardships, Gayoso remains optimistic: "Honestly, I don't see a light at the end of the tunnel, I imagine it. I have a purpose, that helps a lot. Also I am a very upbeat guy and I always look on the bright side, it's the correct way to look at life."
Ongoing Recovery
His last surgery was in December 2025. He still requires laser treatment to remove hair from his lip, as the skin used for reconstruction came from his leg. He also plans micropigmentation to restore lip color and beard and hair implants. Gayoso is focusing on growing his sunglasses brand AAGYO, which has three styles, and hopes to launch new designs later this year. Remarkably, his sunglasses survived the accident without a scratch, and he later drove cars over them to test their durability.
