First Near-Total Face Transplant Performed in the United States

A multi-disciplinary team of doctors and surgeons recently performed the first near-total face transplant in the United States, transplanting 80% of a woman's face.

Surgeons at the Cleveland Clinic (OH, USA) performed one of the largest and most complex face transplants in the world during December 2008, integrating different functional components such as nose and lower eyelids, as well as different tissue types including, skin, muscles, bony structures, arteries, veins, and nerves. The 22-hour procedure included transplantation of 80% of the patient's face, which has suffered severe facial trauma. The procedure essentially involved replacing her entire face, except for her upper eyelids, forehead, lower lip, and chin. The woman received a nose, most of the sinuses around the nose, the upper jaw, and even some teeth. The transplant team was led by Maria Siemionow, M.D., Ph.D., section head of plastic surgery research, and included staff members from psychology/psychiatry, bioethics, social work, anesthesia, transplant, nursing, infectious disease, dentistry, ophthalmology, pharmacy, environmental services

"Our patient was called names and was humiliated; you need a face to face the world,” said Dr. Siemionow. "This patient exhausted all conventional means of reconstruction, and is the right patient.”

"This work demonstrates the Clinic's commitment to improving the lives of patients through innovation,” said Toby Cosgrove, M.D., president and CEO of the Cleveland Clinic. "By advancing scientific research in microsurgery and transplantation, the Clinic is setting new standards of care. I'm extremely proud of the team of physicians and staff who worked tirelessly to make a difference in this patient's life.”

The world's first partial face transplant was performed in France in 2005 on a 38-year-old Isabelle Dinoire, who had been mauled by her dog. She received a new nose, chin, and lips from a brain-dead donor. Two other patients have received partial face transplants since then - a Chinese farmer attacked by a bear and a European man disfigured by a genetic condition.

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