Cleveland Medical Team Performs Revolutionary Face Transplant

A diverse team of medical professionals at Cleveland Clinic has completed an incredible 80 percent face transplant operation on a patient that suffered serious facial trauma.

While no personal information has been released about the patient, news reports state that the operation was the “most complex face transplant in the world.”  Nearly all the structural and functional facial components were replaced.  Surgeons precisely integrated facial structures like the nose and lower eyelids, while restoring different tissues like veins and nerves.

The revolutionary process was largely made possible by the team leader, Maria Siemionow, who has spent a great part of her career on research and development for such procedures.  Siemmionow was able to lead a group of professionals from a variety of disciplines, including bioethics, dentistry, anesthesia, transplant and others.

In a related Wall Street Journal article, Siemionow stated,”patients with facial disfigurement have very difficult challenges in society. We hope that one day we may be able to help the tens of thousands of patients who are quietly suffering.”