Facial transplants are safe, viable, and help patients thrive after a decade of success

Since first becoming available in 2005, 28 people have undergone a full or partial facial transplant—a procedure described by Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez as the “Mount Everest” of medical-surgical treatments.

Rodriguez is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon and senior author on a recent study that found facial transplants are fairly safe, becoming more viable, and clearly improve quality of life. None of the 22 men and 6 women have chronically rejected new organs and tissues; 25 are still living; and 4 went back to work school.

Rodriguez notes that though there have been some complications, the few deaths among patients were due cancer and infection not directly related to the procedure. Most of the patients are “thriving” and returning to social lives they had withdrawn from.

“Without facial transplantation as an option, many of these people would be at serious risk for severe depression, even potential suicide," Rodriguez says.

Doctors select only patients with the most severe disfigurement—from bear bites, gunshot accidents, and severe burns—ineligible for other surgical reconstruction.

The procedure itself is expensive, about $300,000, not including post-procedure costs. Patients must commit themselves to a lifelong schedule of immunosuppressive drugs to prevent tissue rejection. Success depends on “total compliance” of post-procedure medication, follow-up care and rehabilitation, and strong family support.

Dr. Rodriguez notes because facial transplants are life-changing not life-saving, ethical considerations of subjecting young, otherwise healthy individuals to transplants must be taken into account and careful selection is critical.