First Full Face Transplant

On Saturday, March 20, a group of 30 Spanish doctors in Barcelona took 22 hours to conduct the first full-face transplant in the world. While the operation took place over a month ago, details of the operation were just released this week. The patient's recovery has been acutely recorded as the patient's face begins to take a new form. Five years ago, the male patient was severely wounded in a shooting accident that left him incapable of breathing, swallowing, or talking. Prior to this breakthrough, the patient had undergone nine other failed  operations.

Before this operation, the possibility of partial face transplants already existed; 10 transplants have already been done around the world.  The first partial face transplant was in 2005 to a French woman who had severe injuries from a dog attack. In her operation she received a new nose, chin, and lips. The main difference between the partial and full-face transplants is the extent to which bone is transplanted.

The new facial transplants came from the tissue of a donor, according to The London Times. In this operation, a donor's facial skin, muscles, nose, cheekbones, teeth, and jawbone were all used. Then, metal plates were further inserted into the new structure.

Finally, the doctors finished by connecting the donor's nerves, blood vessels, and skin to the patient's.

To ensure the success of the transplant, the patient must continue to take anti-rejection medication for the rest of his life.

Many scientists deem this operation a success for science, but controversy has occurred over the ethics regarding such an operation. According BBC, the UK Facial Transplantation Research Team had obtained ethical permission to carry out this full-face transplant.

According to BBC, the spokesperson for this research team said, "It once again shows how facial transplantation can help a small number of people who are the most severely facially injured and for whom reconstructive surgery cannot and has not worked."

The patient's face looks neither like his old face nor the donor's face. The head of the team of surgeons, Joan Pere Barret, told The London Times, "It is a full-face transplant, restoring all the bones and no grafts. He has the face of a completely new human being."

Since the operation, the patient has looked in a mirror and, according to Spain's El Mundo, he is satisfied with the outcome of the procedure. His current scars on his face will go away with time.

According to The London Times, Dr. Barret said, "He asked to see his face on day seven after the surgery and he was very pleased and satisfied. From our point of view, he looks fantastic. He is the best facial transplant ever." The patient will remain at the Royal Free Hospital in Britain for the next four months as he recovers.

A doctor from the team also drew attention to the donor's family. According to The London Times the doctor said, "We must also remember the family of the donor who, we understand, has helped not only the facial transplantation patient, but others, with various forms of organ donations. To help others, not only to live but to have a good life, is a supreme act of human generosity."