First Full Face Transplant

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It is reported that a group of Spanish doctors have successfully transplanted full face of a person, after failure of several earlier operations on him; he had injured himself in a shooting accident. .

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk HOW SURGEONS REBUILT PATIENT'S FACE 1. Patient lost jaw, nose and other parts of his face in shooting accident. 2. Donor's facial skin, muscles, nose, cheekbones, teeth and jawbone used to rebuild patient's face. Metal plates used to support new facial structure, which included reconstructing the roof of the mouth. 3. Donor's nerves, blood vessels and skin connected to patient. Patient will have to take anti-rejection drugs for the rest of his life. Source: Vall D'Hebron Hospital, Barcelona Face from dead donor is removed in four hour operation Veins, arteries, skin, muscles, and bones are taken The patient is anaesthetised partway through surgery on the donor and any previous skin grafts are removed The donor face and accompanying blood vessels are stitched to the patient using complex microvascular surgery A team of 30 Spanish doctors say they have successfully performed the world's first full face transplant.

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