2nd Partial Face Transplantation
2nd Partial Face Transplantation Performed in Boston
A team of physicians lead by Dr. Pomahac at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, performed the nation's 2nd partial face transplantation on a man who suffered traumatic facial injuries.
The operation that took 17 hours replaced the man's facial skin, muscles of facial animation including upper lip, nose including the nasal bone, and the entire maxilla from a brain dead donor. A second fasciocutaneous flap was transferred as well for easier monitoring by the patient and to avoid facial biopsies. Patient is recovering well and should be leaving the hospital soon.
The recipient has been screened extensively over the past several years and was remarkably motivated to proceed after his accident 4 years ago. He has seen himself and was very pleased, commenting that the new nose resembles his old. "I immediately recognized myself" said after seeing his new image in a mirror for the first time 4 days after the operation.
