Whats the difference between facial transplant, reconstructive facial surgery, and cosmetic surgery?
A. Facial transplantation is not cosmetic surgery. It is done to restore function and form to patients with severe facial injury and disfigurement, where conventional techniques would be inadequate. Due to the need for immunosuppression, it is also not a procedure that is appropriate for patients with cancer-related deficits. Transplantation can be viewed as a form of reconstructive facial surgery, but unlike traditional approaches where tissue is taken from one area of the patient, reshaped, and moved to another, transplantation involves transfer of like tissue from a donor. In simple terms, instead of using various microvascular flaps to attempt to form the critical structures in the face, the face itself with all of its intricate structural elements is transferred from the donor, creating a much better functional and aesthetic outcome. Q. How important was the multi-specialty approach to this procedure? A. The care of a transplant patient is a complex interplay of surgeons, transpla
