In a recent development a team of 30 Spanish surgeons have succeeded in a World’s first full face transplant. The patient had accidentally injured a large part of his face with a shotgun five years ago. This had left him disfigured an unable to breathe, swallow or talk properly. He has undergone nine unsuccessful operations before this operation was planned. In this operation he received the whole of his facial skin, muscles, nose, lips, teeth and cheek bones from a donor in a 22 hour operation at the Vall d'Hebron University Hospital on 20th March. He is on his way to recovery now. This is not the first face transplant but the first full face transplant and also the most complex of its kind.
According to hospital spokesperson Bianca Bont, “This is the first total face transplant…. There have been 10 operations of this kind in the world - this is the first to transplant all of the face and some bones of the face.” UK's Facial Transplantation Research Team, which has ethical permission to carry out a full face transplant, also said it was “a tremendous achievement”.
A spokesman said, “This appears to be the most complex facial transplant operation carried out so far worldwide…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.”
Lead surgeon of the operation Dr Joan Pere Barret is delighted with the the results. He said, “His new face is beautiful. You could say he is getting handsome. He looks less than his chronological age because the donor was a little younger….We are amazed at the result. His face is so natural. The muscles are firm. You can see just one scar across his neck, which looks like a wrinkle.” He assured, “This is only the first of many, I am confident about that. For the best results, I would recommend any surgeon in the world to follow our example. The scarring is less visible. The results are so natural.”
Skeptics have also raised the issue regarding the need for this expensive non-life threatening operation was undertaken with tax payer’s funds.
The patient is expected to be discharged by end of June. He will undergo psycholgical tests and if necessary counseling to deal with his new identity say his doctors. His family may need psychological support too. His smiles and frowns are likely to be similar to his previous face although with new muscles since these actions are guided by the brain.
Rafael Matesanz, the head of Spain's organ transplantation organisation said, “He will not have a completely perfect face. It is all about having a socially acceptable face.” He will also need to have drugs that will prevent his body from rejecting the new tissues. These drugs may cause cancer or diabetes and according to Dr. Barret, “His life will be very different from his old one before the accident.” At present he has a tube in his throat to help him breathe and his doctors believe that although his initial vocalizations might be garbled, he will soon recover full speech. They expect him to return to gainful employment by end of this year.
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