One of the more surprising things (to many students) we talk about in the context of the peripheral nervous system’s ability to reconnect is the transplanting of cadaver parts. In my news today was an interesting interview with a woman who has gone through a complete face transplant procedure. (You might need a free registration to see this article, sorry!)
The patient, a registered nurse, just struck me as being incredibly brave! Before she had the face transplant, she had had 58 surgeries! As difficult as her current procedures have been, she focuses on the improvements to her previous state.
One of the interesting aspects of this case is that the patient actually met the face donor’s daughter. Although the mom was a registered organ donor, faces require special permission, which the daughter gave. The patient says that face transplants usually change over time, but that she still looks like the donor. The daughter must have found that challenging in some respects.
One of the best statements is the following: “The only thing I can say is that it really makes you realize that there’s a part of you that has nothing to do with what you look like. That part of you has nothing to do with the person you see in the mirror.” Well said.
19 Comments
Sarah Morningred · October 29, 2015 at 11:18 pm
It has to be pretty mind-boggling to wake up in the morning, look in the mirror, and see a completely different face than the one you have been used to looking at for the entirety of your life. I wonder if this could have psychological effects on the perception of one’s identity, and if so, would recipients of cosmetic surgery go through a bit of the same thing? Especially in the case of people like Michael Jackson… interesting to think about.
mordanza · October 30, 2015 at 8:55 pm
This is incredible and I agree that this patient is very brave. Not only could there have been physical consequences (from surgery), there is potential for psychological consequences as well. Knowing that both her face is not her original one and it was from a cadaver shows a very deep understanding of who she is. The idea that she doesn’t have to look in the mirror to know who she was is very beautiful and inspiration.
On another note, this kind of medicine and technology is very exciting. The more we know about peripheral nervous system regeneration, the more cases like this we can help resolve. For a structure as complicated as the face, this only opens a wide set of new ideas for reconstruction and I’m very interested in where this technology will lead to.
saraportnoy · October 31, 2015 at 2:30 pm
It’s really inspiring that modern science has the ability to reconstruct a human’s face and have it be functional. It must have been pretty daunting for the patient because the procedure seems incredibly risky. It must have been both physically and psychologically straining to have to go though such a huge number of procedures, but it seems likes she’s learned a lot about her inner self, while trying to improve her outer self. Also, it’s quite spectacular how the peripheral nervous system is able to adapt to the new face after the transplant.
Laura Freberg · November 1, 2015 at 11:33 am
The psychological implications are intense, and we would hope that the counseling these patients obtain prior to surgery is top-notch. It is my understanding that one of the earlier patients to receive a cadaver hand went through a year’s worth of surgeries only to later ask that the hand be removed. Identifying which patients are good candidates is probably a very difficult task!
EricaFinfer · November 1, 2015 at 3:23 pm
It is incredible that modern science is capable of full-face transplants. I find it amazing that they are able to not only cosmetically treat the patient, but give her neurological function as well. She has regained some control in breathing, blinking, and speaking. The ability of her surgeons to perform this surgery expresses huge advancements that are being made in the medical field every day.
sarahdemarois · November 1, 2015 at 3:59 pm
I cannot imagine the psychological effect of undergoing 58 surgeries, let alone adding a face transplant on top of it all! This woman does sound incredibly brave and I think it is fascinating to think of all the different individuals who became a part of this process–the donor and the patient, as well as their respective families, the doctors, the therapists, the scientists, and so on. This groundbreaking technology is no easy feat but it sounds like the first candidate to go forward with it was a good decision.
mmontna · November 3, 2015 at 10:53 am
This is very interesting due to the fact that a cadaver face can be transplanted and be functional on an entirely different human being. The ability for the PNS to regenerate is amazing and has immense medical field benefits. Though these are amazing discoveries, it must be incredibly difficult to wake up one day and see a different person in the mirror. The psychological effects of having something that is “dead” on your body can probably leave an immense impact on the recipients life. Having something so distinguishable and personal as a face being transplanted, can effect self image and ideals in unimaginable ways. Therapy for both the family of the donor, and for the recipient are both things that will probably need to be used.
Thanks,
Maddison Montana
camillemansour95 · November 4, 2015 at 7:33 pm
I really liked how she said that there is a part of yourself that has nothing to do with what you look like. While growing up, people take cues of people’s reaction to them, causing effects in their personality. To completely change somebody’s face creates an issue. I would be interested to see what the therapy would focus on. How could one adapt to completely new reactions? Would the counsellor focus on these new reactions? Or on trying to remain consistent and stable of their usual self? Without any information on the topic, I speculate that the therapist would have the patient lead the conversation. If the patient has trouble re-adapting to their old self, then maybe help them find their newfound self.
shelbydewberry · November 5, 2015 at 10:58 am
It must be really mentally challenging to go through a face transplant–for both the donors family and for the recipient. I couldn’t imagine looking in the mirror and seeing someone else’s face looking back at me or–even worse–walking around and seeing my dead family members face on someone else’s body. With that being said, it is remarkable how far our modern medicine and technology has come to allow face transplants to take place and to allow someone the opportunity to sort of start their life over again after a tragedy.
HanaShiozaki · November 6, 2015 at 4:42 pm
This interview gave me goosebumps and teary eyes while reading. I can’t begin to imagine what life would be like in that sort of situation. Looking in the mirror and not being able to recognize who you are must have been an incredibly surreal experience. At the same time, going through this gave her a perspective and a level of gratitude most don’t have. She said closing her lips, smiling, and breathing through her nose were huge improvements that meant a lot to her. That just makes me think about how many days have passed where I don’t give a second of my time to think about how blessed I am to have these senses.
This interview was a reality check of sorts and Carmen’s optimistic outlook on the situation is quite inspiring.
Sophie Marsh · November 8, 2015 at 2:50 pm
I wasn’t previously aware of the extent of functionality from the peripheral nervous system that comes with a transplant of these kinds. I agree that it makes you question the standards innate in our society that place such an importance on appearance. I wonder what the psychological implications of a face transplant are. How that would effect the self esteem, sense of identity, etc.. in oneself? While anyone needing a face transplant would likely feel thankful just to have the opportunity for a face, it must be a difficult emotional transition to make as well as a physical one.
jennylu18 · November 8, 2015 at 11:18 pm
Like many others, I’m curious to see the physiological and psychological impacts on this face-transplant patient as time progresses. Did the areas in the brain reconnect with those associated in the donor’s face well? How is the patient mentally coping with an entirely new face? The success of this story might inspire those who might need one and give them more hope.
emmanishimura96 · November 20, 2015 at 3:42 pm
This is a very interesting topic and a good one for this class in that its both a medical procedure and also something that could have great psychological effects. I think it would be a very fascinating study to see if a surgery like a face transplant changes a person’s personality. I have heard that in rare cases when people have transplants sometimes gain certain traits that the donor had. Taking this into consideration, I wonder if surgically gaining something as important as a face would have any odd effects.
Ariana Altman · November 25, 2015 at 4:34 pm
I continue to be amazed with what modern science and technology can achieve. A few years ago face implants would have been things of science fiction! technology and science is moving at such a fast pace, I am anxious and excited to see what we have in store for us in the next few years. I think that it is incredible that we have reached such feats already, and I think it’s crazy to think of all the possible implications that these have in our future. It makes me wonder though, how would I feel if I had the complexion of someone else? Just the knowledge of knowing that I literally have someone else’s skin on my face would creep me out. I’m sure this patient must need to undergo some form of psychological therapy in order to cope with this.
hannahphelps · February 9, 2016 at 6:59 pm
Wow. This definitely struck a cord within me in many levels. I firmly believe in donating organs. I lost a family member in high school and her organs saved the lives of five individuals, each needing something they could not find matches for prior. This case has the whole other dimension of being so visibly obvious – the face. I cannot imagine how difficult it would be for the daughter of the donor, as it would seem to be reliving seeing her mom in a weird sense. It also would be hard to have your image, something our society labels as self-defining, not define who you are at all; but someone else whom you know has passed. I think it’s important to see how awesome the situation is, that we can complete such procedures successfully! But recognizing the difficulties of both parties is also a thought to have, something I have intense sympathy and respect for.
carleykruger4 · April 3, 2016 at 9:05 pm
It’s always heart breaking to hear about such tragic stories that require many facial procedures and or face transplants. I remember watching the news and there was a story about a woman whose ex-boyfriend threw acid in her face. Her face was completely disfigured after the incident. Sad stories like that make me so thankful of modern science and that we have the ability to change peoples lives with face transplants. I also believe in donating organs, I’m an organ donor myself. However, I couldn’t imagine how hard it would be for the daughter to give permission when the person receiving the transplant will look like the donor.
vimorris@calpoly.edu · April 12, 2016 at 9:08 am
I can’t imagine what the patient discussed in the post must be going through emotionally. Not only must it be physically exhausting having over 58 surgical procedures but also having to adjust to an unfamiliar face would be draining. I’m curious to know how the patient’s view of herself is effected. Depending on what outfit I put on for the day my motivation and attitude can be slightly altered. Putting on another’s face I imagine would have a much greater affect than the overcoming lazy feeling of putting on a pair of sweats does.
caitlin.colladay · May 24, 2016 at 1:44 pm
As an anatomy and physiology major, I find it so mazing how the human body is able to regrow nerves and form new connections in the brain to allow for cadaver transplants to occur. However, being able to transplant a face must be extremely difficult. The face has so many blood vessels, nerves, and muscles that I wonder how much of the donor face is actually taken. Is it just the skin to serve as a covering or are the underlying structures donated too? Looking at the transplant from the doctor’s perspective that must be a very tedious and long surgery. But from the patient’s perspective, that must be so weird to feel like yourself, but not look like yourself. I wonder if the person ever gets use to the new face in the mirror.
brittanymertzel · October 21, 2016 at 1:30 pm
This story is incredible. I am astonished by the fact of a face transplant, from a cadaver. It is so amazing to me that a person can be given someone else face and “bring it back to life” in a way. I am so humbled by this nurse, after going through 58 surgeries and finishing it off with a face transplant! I am mind-blown. This entire story of the patient meeting the donors daughter is just breathtaking, and the fact that it still in a way, looked like her mother makes me so emotional. The physical attributes of a person are so minimally important compared to the soul of a person. I cannot imagine how the daughter would feel to see her mom’s physical face on someone else. That would be so bittersweet to me but ultimately very hard for me to cope with. Modern science is expanding in exponential ways, this being one of them.