First U.S. face transplant performed on woman

William Atkins
Thursday, 18 December 2008 21:46

Science - Biology

The Cleveland Clinic reported that the procedure began in the evening when surgeons removed the donor’s face, a process that took over nine hours.

At the same time, the recipient was prepared for surgery. Early in the morning the actual transfer process began. For almost three hours, surgeons connected blood vessels from the patient to the graft from the donor.

Multiple surgical teams worked during the 22-hour procedure.

Dr. Siemionow stated, “We have finally done it. This procedure went well according to the plan, and the patient is doing well. The surgery took 22 hours. The preparation to the surgery took about 20 years of work in the field of composite tissue transplantation." [U.S. News and World Report: “Doctors Describe First U.S. Face Transplant”]

Dr. Siemionow stated, “The patient is doing well ... I must tell you how happy she was when with both her hands she could go over her face and feel that she has a nose, feel that she has a jaw." [Chicago Tribune]

The ability to perform a facial transplant, however, is not without its concerns for society in general.

The Chicago Tribune reports, “The researchers acknowledged the procedure poses issues for society, including fears it would become used for purely cosmetic purposes or even to steal someone's identity.”

More information on the procedure is found on the Cleveland Clinic webpage “Cleveland Clinic Performs First Face Transplant in U.S.”