Face transplant patient is revealed

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/05/05/science/AP-MED-Face-Transplant.html?hp

by raheemm • 17 years ago

39 19 17 years ago

<psa> I've been an ER nurse for years, and the most rewarding times of that career have been when I can work my tail off to keep a donors body going long enough to harvest the organs. Donors give an amazing and precious gift to dozens people. I've cared for both donors and recipients. It's a beautiful and amazing thing. Think about it and talk to your family about it.</psa>

kingnothing• 17 years ago

Are there honestly many people these days who aren't donors? I'm sure the answer is yes, but I'll still be surprised by it.

icey• 17 years ago

I'm sure there are quite a few people who aren't donors and don't know that they have to elect to be one.

Otherwise, I guess maybe people aren't for religious reasons? I'm not sure on that.

Confusion• 17 years ago

AFAIK, in countries with an 'opt-in' policy, less than 50% is a registered donor.

tophat02• 17 years ago

Man I can't wait until we can put a bunch of stem cells on scaffolding and reactivate certain embryogenic pathways to grow organs. Maybe even faces, though what you'd get is a baby face.

ars• 17 years ago

You wouldn't get a baby face. The shape of the face is determined by the bones under it, not by the skin on top. (Although the skin would be smooth, and not lined.) So a face donor recipient does not get the face of the donor.

Also, faces (i.e. skin) is actually the easiest organ to grow, and doesn't need stem cells. I read about a burn victim where they took some skin from under his belt buckle (The only non burned skin on him), and stretched, then split, then stretched some more till they were able to cover him (took months).

bravura• 17 years ago

It's actually quite amazing how important appearance is, for people that have had it stripped away from them.

My girlfriend, a cancer survivor, envisions a young adult cancer charity that focuses on the cosmetic aspects of treatment: paying for wigs, teaching girls how to do makeup. At first, I thought her idea was missing the point, but then she explained to me how uplifting it is to have some modicum of control over your appearance during treatment and recovery.

mynameishere• 17 years ago

Few patients suffer more of mental discomfort than the unfortunate possessors of some unsightly disfigurement on the face which attracts constant notice, few are more solicitous for any operation which promises relief, and none are more grateful for the slightest improvement in their condition

http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/2004/1/...

Not strange. Actual pain has known bounds, but if you have some unsightliness, you never know what people are thinking. Socially, you might be a monster--and you can't tell.

zitterbewegung• 17 years ago

I think what they have done here is a real victory for science. Also they have given back something that we all take for granted. It makes you wonder what we will be able to do next.

octane• 17 years ago

Damn, couldn't they do something about her cheeks?

maximilian• 17 years ago

it said that they are going to deal with her cheeks once her nerves and muscles grow in better. It'll be most telling a year or two from now once it all settles down and they can fix some of the drooping problems. I hope to see a followup someday - it'd be super amazing to see the difference.

swivelmaster• 17 years ago

Look at the before picture. She had weird cheeks anyway.

knightrider• 17 years ago

It's nice to see that in this world of open source, patents are getting some attention and IP is still valued.

jmah• 17 years ago

I just realized why I got a strange feeling. Her face looks like a Mii! (In the most tasteful fashion.)

Face transplant patient is revealed

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