News Item:
Doctor to attempt face transplant (http://www.rednova.com/news/health/242616/doctor_pushes_for_first_face_transplant/index.html)

I suppose there might be occasions when someone is so badly injured that such a process might be valid, but I'd have thought the psychological implications are quite major.

One of those places that wise men and medics should perhaps fear to tread, or be VERY careful.

Joe

I personally feel no more 'weird' about this than I do cornea transplants (which I've always been a little bit funny about). Essentially this isn't really any more than a skin transplant (which is currently undertaken on other areas of the body severely burned or scarred anyway). Its just the area of the body which comes with the emotional issue. The person will not look in any way like the donor as their underlying bone/muscle structure will be the same. They'll look very similar to before whatever accident they had, althought their skin tone is likely to be different and might not match up to their neck etc.

I see what you mean - but that's why I said psychological problems. Does remind me of those really awful aliens in Star Trek : Voyager, The Vidians, who had a penchant for nicking bits of person....

And as for corneal transplants - does anyone remember the Adverts' song 'Gary Gilmore's Eyes'? :)

Did anyone see the documentary on the 'Guinea Pigs Club' a few weeks ago - very moving and inspiring.

Joe

What ever happened to cloning tissue? The chance of rejection is much smaller. I saw a picture a few years ago showing a human ear that was grown on the side of a lab mouse. :confused:

the ear structure was synthetic cartilage.IIRC.

A face transplant will be no less traumatic than having a disfigured face - it is still someone else in the mirror to begin with.

Add to that the effect of the underlying bone structure of the recipient, and the donors face will look quite different IMO.

So, the first face transplant has been done now.
What are your feelings on it?http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4484728.stm

I did hear about a new transplant method for replacing ears using Pigs.

Unfortunately the recipient complained of too much Cracklin :hihi:

On a serious note although I feel I would be fine if my facial skin was to be used in this way as I have no need for it once I'm gone - I'm not sure how I'd feel about allowing my childs to be used God forbid, although I have no problem in any other organs being used!

I think she got mauled by her own dog...... she'll get mauled again when she gets home, he won't recognise her:heyhey:

An American, Russian & Englishman talking about transplants.

The Russian said "Comrade doctors put a new brain into comrade who had severe stroke, within one month he was out looking for work as maths teacher"

The American retorted, "Our chief surgeon seperated Siamese twins, gave them artificial limbs using biotechnology, now one month later both are out seek jobs a physiotherapists"

The Englishman looked at them both...
"we put a C*** into downing street now millions are looking for jobs as taxi drivers" :hihi:

Couldnt get the first article to show up, but im for anything that will advance plastic surgery.

I had to have a lot of it a few years ago and some of the scars are still visible.

However, people that have known me for years will suddenly turn round and say things like "jesus, when did that happen, never saw it before"

Its probably all in my head but sometimes it just seems to stick out like a sore thumb.

I really can't see any ethical problem with a face transplant - as Twiglet said earlier it's only a skin / muscle graft. No different from the liver, heart, cornea etc transplants we are used to.
As for psychological problems for the recipient - I'd imagine she'd be feeling better than having a badly disfigured face and surely won't feel remorse at receiving the transplant since transplant surgery is common nowadays.
No worries about the 'op', well done to the surgical team and good luck to the patient.
The only problem is the journalists who are trying to find an issue here.

There has been some controversy regarding The Donor (http://jpcoleman.com/upload/buttface.gif) though, and the Surgeon's skills. :o

I do not understand what all the fuss is about. Andrew Lloyd- Webber had a face transplant years ago.