French Woman Receives First Partial Face Transplant

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Main Category: Cosmetic Medicine / Plastic Surgery
Article Date: 01 Dec 2005 - 12:00 PDT

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A 38 year old woman in France, who lost her nose, lips and chin during a dog attack, has become the first person in the world to receive a partial face transplant. The procedure, which lasted several hours, was carried out in Amiens, France, by Prof. Bernard Devauchelle and Prof. Jean Michel Dubernard and their surgical team.

Parts of the face of a donor, who was brain dead, were grafted on to the woman's nose, lips and chin - this included facial skin, veins and muscles.

Her doctors say she will not look like she used to before the dog attack, neither will she look like the donor.

The donor's family had agreed to allow the donation to take place.

The medical community has been hesitant about carrying out such operations - mainly for ethical reasons.

The woman will remain in hospital for a couple of months while doctors check for infection and rejection.

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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