US to perform first face transplants

[Jimbo 175]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4259538.stm

 

 

Face off becomes reallity !

 

Who's face would you want if you had to have a transplant ?

[Holden McGroin 6587]

*Puts on serious cap*

 

not sure about this. Imagine a close relative or friend was the donor and you see the recipient in the street. How freaked out would you get

 

*takes off serious cap*

 

 

Tom cruise

[Tom_NUFC 0]

wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong.

[catmag 337]

I've read about this in one of the medical journals and it's very bizarre. Apparently the surgery can be quite superficial in that it just takes the top layer of skin from the dead donor, or it can be much deeper involving some of the cartilege and bone structures from underneath if the recipient has had some kind of major trauma to the face and needs it rebuilt.

 

I know that some people go through some terrible psychological suffering following a disfigurement or trauma but I'm not sure that looking in the mirror and seeing someone else's face wouldn't be a psychological trauma in itself - as well as the huge risks that are going to be involved in actually doing the surgery which reportedly is going to take something like 12 hours to do.

 

And what happens if the body rejects it, or some areas of the face don't 'take' to the recipients own underlying structures? They're going to be left with worse disfigurements than they started out with.

[snakehips 0]

Sorry guys, before you all start posting, I'm keeping this one!!!

[Guest Sima]

WTF? Bad idea.