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The New Face Lift
RiotXIX writes to tell us that US surgeons plan on moving forward with their newest experimental medical practice, a face transplant. Doctors have already succeeded in making this practice a reality with cadavers donated for medical research and will soon begin interviewing a shortlist of patients to determine who, if anyone, will be first up for this procedure. From the article: 'The chance it will work is around 50% and experts have expressed safety and ethical concerns about the procedure. The recipient would have to take powerful anti-rejection drugs for life, which carry considerable long-term health risks, says the Royal College of Surgeons of England, which formed a working party to look at the issue earlier this year.'
Face/Off was about the worst movie ever. What makes people think the reality will be any better?
I can see it now...
I want Cowboy Neal's face, there's room to grow into it.
Trolling is a art,
I saw a movie about this once where one guy takes his face/off and changes it with another guy who also takes his face/off. Anyway, they end up chasing each other around for a while and eventually face/off to fight.
I think it was called "Two Guys that Traded Faces".
if Brad Pitt is a donor? I could really use the sex.
WHAT THE HELL? Then I thought "oh, okay, it's april fools." Then I remembered that no, it wasn't, and it was just National Talk-Like-A-Pirate-Day. I'd be a little weirded out if someone started walking around with my dead wife's face. But that's just me.
...science useful for the slashdot masses.
What? You know you guys are ugly as sin, admit it!
(hey it's a joke!)
The summary doesn't make this clear, but this procedure is intended only for severely disfigured people due to burn scars and such.
The possible side effects are pretty scary, though. My favorite quote is from the CNN Article:
And I used to think that anal leakage was a scary side effect, that's nothing comparing to a soughing face! Thank god I'm not in a position for now where I have to make a decision like that, but it sure is a high price to pay for looking "normal" again.
Michael Jackson had this done years ago.
I have the feeling that someone that has had a large part of their face burned off in a bad fire isn't going to be too worried about having to take drugs for the rest of their lives. Ethical? Ask the people who need this kind of surgery if THEY think it's ethical.
That sounds a bit cruel, maybe they just need to drink a lot instead.
--- I wish I could hear the soundtrack to my life. That way I'd know when to duck.
How does this go with ID-Theft? Yup.. that's me.. see I look like me in this ID.... eeek!
When will Michael Jackson sign up for this? And what will he look like next?
[Insert pithy quote here]
I think that it would be more responsible to first try this procedure on animals, like monkeys or pigs. For instance, maybe they could transplant a pig's face to a monkey. They might even market these to insane rich people as "exotic pets."
Another idea I had that would have a similar market is cosmetic surgery for dogs.
Update: Just on a whim I googled "cosmetic surgery for dogs" and found this. I'm gonna go throw up now.
Arrrrr!
"Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus."
I suspect this procedure would be great for people who have had extreme burns to their face.
One thing to note are the anti-rejection drugs. My uncle whose kidneys both failed, had to get one from my father in the early 90's (91 i think) and had to take anti-rejection drugs. Well, the drugs eventually gave him colon cancer (approx. 10 years of heavy use) and passed away 2 years ago. But, without the kidney transplant he would have never made it past 1992.
It will be a trade off for these people.. potential to live a long life disfigured or a shorted life bearing a new face. Tough call?
MrJynx
. . . So can I take those and get laid every time I hit on a girl?
i don't care
It is probably difficult to comprehend the impact major facial disfigurement can have on a person.
Doctors have already succeeded in making this practice a reality with cadavers
Let me get this straight. Doctors have "succeeded" in attaching one dead guys face to another dead guys skull. No problems with rejection, I take it. And the recipient hardly looked any worse than before the transplant, I mean, considering the bastards were dead, I'm guessing the failure rate was not very low.
Anybody want a peanut?
A really Brave New World.
The lessons of history teach us - if they teach us anything - that nobody learns the lessons that history teaches us.
Is already a BIG problem.. China sells the organs of condemmed prisoners - a LOT of innocent people I am sure suffer this.. It could happen here as well if jobs keep disappearing.. If anyone tells you otherwise, they don't know much about power and the powerless.. and how frequently the powerless lose anything of value they have to the rich and powerful..
It puts the lotion on its skin...
Shades of Grayden
The recipient would have to take powerful anti-rejection drugs
As far as rejection goes, I've heard there have been a good progress with transplanting pig's organs instead, so why don't we... Oops, never mind
bad joke, bad joke
"You mortals are so obtuse." -Q
Wired quotes a release-form the recipient must sign:
Your face will be removed and replaced with one donated from a cadaver, matched for tissue type, age, sex and skin color. Surgery should last 8 to 10 hours; the hospital stay, 10 to 14 days. Complications could include infections that turn your new face black and require a second transplant or reconstruction with skin grafts. Drugs to prevent rejection will be needed lifelong, and they raise the risk of kidney damage and cancer. After the transplant you might feel remorse, disappointment, or grief or guilt toward the donor. The clinic will try to shield your identity, but the press likely will discover it.
No free lunch...
Seeing bad movies only encourages them. Watch responsibly
Transplanting organs and even external body parts has been an ongoing practice for quite some time. Clearly, they are making small improvements as time goes by and a variety of details have been added as well. But I have to hope there isn't too much research being done into this.
... it goes without saying. And I also recognize the fundamental expansion of knowledge of human anatomy and how it works is also a worthy benefit of the activities discussed in face transplant technologies.)
In my mind (which is a weird place to be at times) I think the future of medical technology is ultimately in regeneration of damaged or missing tissue. In previous medical articles mentioned here, stem cell research has already enabled paralyzed people to walk again and other improvements are just around the corner I'm sure. In addition to that, the research where genetic manipulation of rats have resulted in entire body parts regenerating after having them removed.
Ultimately, this is advanced forms of healing which is where almost everything in the way of research should be directed, in my opinion, since healing is what the medical practice is all about.
(And yes, I recognize the need for disease and cancer research as well
And on an asside, replacing a face will not make one person look like another. For that, you'd have to manipulate the bones under the skin and muscle to really make modifications that make a difference.
This is done by Dr. Robert White. He has done a lot of experiments where he transplanted animal heads, and they stayed alive for a while (hours).
I know this story sounds like cosmetic surgery, but it isn't. (Yes, I would like a more handsome face)It is for people who need it medically, at least for now...
Dr White's son, Mr. White was my Eighth grade Latin teacher at Shaker Heights Middle School, I kid you not.
And All I Ask is a Tall Ship And a Star to Steer Her By
I remember a news story about a girl born without a face.
I don't remember the medical name of the condition, where basically the bone structure of the face fails to develop during pregnancy, but such a procedure might help such people after the underlying bone grafts are complete.
I guess the word "faceplant" no longer solely refers to me tripping while going upstairs/while going downstairs/walking outside/walking around in my dorm room.
The most disgusting seen was when the bad guy was hanging out with no face, just this pizza-with-the-cheese-pulled-off kind of look. And imagine, if the surgery goes wrong that could be you! I'd stick with the scars. An ugly face is better than no face.
I think some of these guys should take some time off and watch some movies, then they would realize that building Skynet, virtual reality, and face transplants almost never end happily, just usually in bad sequels!
I haven't thought of anything clever to put here, but then again most of you haven't either.
I worked (very briefly) with a guy that had had "reconstruction" over 100% of his face from 3rd degree burns. In his case:
successful "reconstruction" = "no longer oozing."
He had no lips, and only kind of had eyelids, he had to constantly roll his eyes to keep them lubed. No nose, just one deformed hole in the front of his head. He was, in a word, hideous. Not his fault. He was a good guy. But his quality of life was in the toilet. This was in the late 1990s, so maybe they're a little better now, but if they can do a complete replacement - more power to them. I would be happy to be a donor once I'm gone. They already get my liver, heart, and eyes. If someone can use this ugly mug, they're welcome to it.
... welcome our new face swapping overlords.
Remember folks, slashdot doesn't have a -1 "disagree" moderation!
I once knew this hottie who was actually turned on by this guy who's face was disfigured by 3rd degree burns and the numerous skin grafs associated.
BTW, he was burned while commiting arson. Go figure....
for the US Marshall Service Witness Protection Program. As this medical procedure becomes more commonplace, it will not be only paper identity, occupation, and location of witnesses in Federal criminal cases that are changed.
In spite of the inherent risks involved in any surgery, as well as the need to take anti-rejection drugs for the remainder of the patient's life, I can see that this will become popular even as elective surgery. I can also see that face transplants will become an abused procedure, for concealing the identity of terrorists, mobsters, mass murderers, embezzlers, and politicians/dictators that have fallen out of favor.
Extensive facial disfigurement cannot be corrected by one skin graft. It must be done in many small pieces with current technology. Do you have any idea how severely an automobile collision or a fire can damage a person's tissue?
Paragraphs 32, 33
Please note the risks, complications, and expected recovery times for each full skin graft.
Although this article clearly opposes facial transplants, it supports the assertation that current grafting methodologies are slow, painful, and dangerous; and new procedures are needed to reconstruct facial tissue in larger pieces with fewer surgeries. Dr Thomas Stevenson, president of the Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, said:
Apparently, I am the only person here that watches the Discovery Health channel. Some time ago, DH ran a documentary on face transplants that profiled an event 10 years ago when an Indian girl had her face and scalp amputated by a grass cutting machine. The doctors in India were able to reattach her face. The success gave other doctors the incentive to begin researching the possibility of transplanting faces for the severely disfigured.
I offer no judgements about whether the procedure is a good idea or not. I just know that I wouldn't deny a well informed individual the right to the surgery.
Have you ever known a burn victim?
Skin grafts do not do very much. I think that what they do is provide enough temporary covering to allow scar tissue to grow in place anyways. And, besides, the scar tissue that does grow is not all that flexible at all, either.
The "face transplant" only involves taking off the dermal layers of the face, no facial muscles (dermis, epidermis and subcutaneous layer).
They are looking for recipients that have not suffered too much muscle or nerve damage, and still have a good amount of the blood supply available (obviously). Did you not read the article?
If there ever was a legitimate cosmetic surgery, this is one.
Who would trade burn scars for 50% chance of death, likelyhood of chronic pain, likelyhood of further disfigurement, and no immune system for the rest of their lives?
Actually an impaired immune system - the drugs just suppress part of it. Still no fun though. (That part goes after cancers and virus-infested-but-functioning tissues, too, among other things...)
What I don't see is why they're replacing the whole skin. Why not take off the scar tissue and replace it with a collagen mask seeded with skin cells? This is done with many burn victims (along with at least one person who lost her whole dermis due to a rare drug reaction).
Perhaps it's because the damage is too deep and they need to replace the nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and other plumbing?
Bantam Dominique roosters crow a four-note song. Once you've heard it as "Happy BIRTHday" you can't NOT hear it that way
No, the problem is the people who think they have a right to a perfect life - and that someone else should bear the costs.
That's a hell of a thing to say to someone who has burns on 40% of his body. He doesn't want a "perfect life", he wants to not live in pain and discomfort. Who are you to criticize him for that, as you enjoy a life free of these problems? Try compassion some time, instead of clutching your wallet, fearful you might ever have to help somebody else.
Freedom: "I won't!"