Organ transplant is one that has been around for decades; if not centuries. With the advances of medical science, we have seen the possibility of transplanting almost every part of the human body (not sure of the brain though, lol).
About 12years ago, a medical feat was achieved in France, where surgeons successfully performed the world's first face transplant. And since then, we have seen dozens undergoing this procedure (about 40 have been recorded so far). But another feat has been achieved which has stricken the world with awe; and that is the "double-face transplant" (recipient receives a second face). Let's grab some popcorn, relax, and read up about this amazing feat.
We have seen face replacement procedures done in the past. That is; putting back the face of the original owner; which, maybe had been severed by accident or similar occurrences. At least, the first replant was achieved in 1994, when Sandeep Kaur's face, which was ripped apart by a threshing machine, was re-attached.
But we're not looking at replant in this survey, but a total transplant from a donor; and not just a transplant, but having a second face transplant.
The case study which we are considering in this survey had the first transplant done about 12years ago; which was termed as "successful" by the French doctors; but after 7years, his body started rejecting the face (this is one of the worst forms of organ rejections).
This severe form of organ rejection had been battled by Patient X (name withheld. You'll understand why the name has been withheld later in the survey). Then on November 2017, the rejected face had to be surgically removed, and Patient X was induced in a coma, and had been faceless since then. This is the scenario that arose the idea of performing a second transplant on Patient X. This feat has clearly shown the possibility of facial re-transplantation.
Prior to this breakthrough; for the extreme cases of face rejection, the alternative was to place the patient on permanent immunosuppressive drugs. And we know the threat attached to this kind of therapy for life. Here's a potent example:
Isabelle Dinoire underwent a face transplant about 12years ago when her face was mutilated from an attack by her dog. But after some years, the transplant went awry and her body started rejecting her face. She was quickly placed on immunosuppressive drugs. In 2016, she died of cancer, which her physicians linked to the complications arising from the usage of the immunosuppressive drug. Even before she died, she lost the use of her lips and other parts of her face. Yeah! scary, I know :(
That was why an imminent and more potent alternative was sought for, and here it has arrived.
Re-transplantation and a new "you"
Owing to the glaring threat of going for the option of immunosuppressive drugs, Patient X chose the option of re-transplantation which has never been done in the history of facial transplantation.
Just like my friend would always say:
When you are in a fix between two terrible choices to make, it is strongly advised to take the lesser of two evils.
That was clearly what Patient X did, and the procedure was done by the same French surgeons some days ago. Though it is too early to term the procedure as "fully successful" (that's why "Patient X" would suffice for the mean time), as it normally takes weeks to ascertain the success of this kind of procedure, but history has already been made.
"No doubt, when he looks into the mirror, he would see a different face from the one he left behind, but does this alter his personality?" This is the question that has been popping up in my mind. Well, in my opinion, it may not alter his personality on the immediate; but remotely, it could. When his acquaintances will not recognize or identify him, what pain would measure up to that feeling? But it is still better than the substitute :).
A new hope
With this kind of achievement being blazed in the field of medical science, new hopes have dawned on the path of people with severe facial mutilations. Talking of facial mutilations; some of them can even impair normal breathing and even eating, not to talk of “speaking” and "facial expressions" which would have gone into oblivion.
But those with this kind of problem can now smile again, literally, with this kind of procedure.
The world of medical science is really getting advanced, and we've seen sophisticated technologies now incorporated into medical science (it's not surprising that this statement is coming from a guy who is a proponent of emerging tech).
One of the things I always believed when it come to "impossibility" is this; they don’t exist.
More mind-blowing feats are coming your way.
Thanks for reading
References for further reading: Ref1, Ref2, Ref3, Ref4, Ref5
