Facial Transplants

[Sharon]

It was reported yesterday that the first partial face transplant was performed in France and that there are also plans to perform this surgery in other facilities in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

My question for you is (assuming the procedure is ever perfected and becomes available for the overly masculine -- or feminine for the FtM -- faced TGs):
Would you consider having a full-facial transplant as a means of providing you a face more fitting your psyche?
Would you see it as a viable alternative to plastic surgery?
Would you still feel as if it was you looking back in the mirror in the morning?



Here is a link to the story and a much condensed version below:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051201/ap_on_he_me/france_face_transplant;_ylt=AgJNqKZdjeekFAQYI06oLh qs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3czJjNGZoBHNlYwM3NTE-

LYON, France - Doctors in France said they had performed the world's first partial face transplant, forging into a risky medical frontier with their operation on a woman disfigured by a dog bite.

The 38-year-old woman, who wants to remain anonymous, had a nose, lips and chin grafted onto her face from a brain-dead donor whose family gave consent.

The surgery drew both praise and sobering warnings over its potential risks and ethical and psychological ramifications. If successful — something that may not be known for months or even years — the procedure offers hope to people horribly disfigured by burns, accidents or other tragedies.

Scientists around the world are working to perfect techniques involved in transplanting faces. Today's best treatments leave many people with facial disfigurement and scar tissue that doesn't look or move like natural skin.

A complete face transplant, which involves applying a sheet of skin in one operation, has never been done before. The procedure is complex, but uses standard surgical techniques.

Critics say the surgery is too risky for something that is not a matter of life or death, as regular organ transplants are.

[swiss_susan]

It was for people who had been disfigured. I don't know if it would be all that effective, for a feminizing effect, as the report I saw pointed out that the face is defined more by the bone and muscle structure under the skin.

Plus on has to bear in mind that the procedure would require a donor, and I don't think we will get to many offers.

Susan

[Sharon]

This is a hypothetical question. I'm asking you to assume that the procedure becomes possible. Bone structure can be altered already.

[swiss_susan]

I would say no, because I wouldn't be the hansome devil I am today :D

No, I really would not want to ever make any kind of changes like that personally.

Susan

[jo_ann]

the article I read said that they also have to take medication for years so that the body doesn't reject the new body part.. imagine the body rejecting your face?

http://www.moviequotequiz.com/reviews/FaceOffBig.gif

[Sharon]

You need to take medication for just about any transplant. You would, I assume, take them if you had a heart or kidney transplant, wouldn't you?

[Faye Emmette]

At least in our lifetime 'cause I think it'll take some time to get it 'right'. Look how much Michael Jackson spent and who'd want to be like him!!
Oo sorry Sharon; hypothecally, No, I'll battle with what I have.
XX
F.

[FionaAlexis]

Yes, Sharon, I was thinking about some of these questions myself when I heard the news. I think a full facial transplant would be a bit scary actually and I'm sure I'd feel very lost and disoriented. I've heard that some people have psychological probs after facial plastic surgery.

And then would you do a mix and match? You wouldn't really want to end up looking like a deceased person. What about their family's feelings? You might go for Angelina Jolie type lips etc. and Halle Berry type eyes - or vice versa.

But no - I'm happy with my face.

Fiona xx

[cindybarnes]

Heck, put me on the list for a face doaner then.
I was told yesterday it looks like I have a type of skin cancer so I would rather have a second hand or store bought face than one thats falling off.

Cindy

[Faye Emmette]

Gosh Cindy, just looking at your site and if I'm not being too forward, you are pretty. No need for changes there.
But I am worried about what you said about the skin problem.
I hope it is fixed soon and in a non-invasive way.
XX
F.

[Stephanie Brooks]

No. I wouldn't consider it. Stephanie is Steve as female. Replace the face and something is lost.

It's bad enough looking in the mirror every day and seeing a guy when it's supposed to be a girl. Seeing the wrong girl in the mirror would be no better, and perhaps worse.

Assuming I was in the category of overly masculine TS, I would probably still opt for plastic surgery as opposed to a face transplant. I'd likely still recognize the face as me that way.

[KatieZ]

I just saw this on the news and thought the same thing myself initially. But it didn't take long to say no way. Although I would like to have a more feminine face I would want it to still be my face/skin. I would rather go the plastic surgery route if I was to ever seriously want to change my appearance.



Hugs

[swiss_susan]

In todays paper, I noticed it also said that you would need to be on medication for the rest of your life.

I just thought I wuold toss that in too.

Susan

[jackie66]

Whilst all this about facial transplants appears to be wonderful, it would pay to bear in mind that successful transplants of tissue from other bodies requires anti-rejection drugs to be taken for the rest of the natural life of the recipient.
I speak as a person who has been crippled by prescribed drugs. - I was misdiagnosed with a problem and the prescribed drugs permanently damaged my central nervous system.
If a face has been transplanted, what happens if the body becomes allergic to the AR drugs. ---Points to ponder perhaps

[BrendaChristine]

the article I read said that they also have to take medication for years so that the body doesn't reject the new body part.. imagine the body rejecting your face?

http://www.moviequotequiz.com/reviews/FaceOffBig.gif

I know some faces that should have been rejected......:rolleyes:
B.

[TGMarla]

Geez, Sharon. It's hard to get a straight answer, isn't it? To answer the question in the spirit in which it was asked, I'd say no. My features aren't so heavy and my facial tissue so extremely masculine that I'd think it was warranted. A little rhinoplasty, a little work on the jaw perhaps, and a tracheal shave, and I'd be good to go. Maybe a few other nips and tucks here and there, but a full facial transplant would be just a bit much.

Now if I looked like Archie Bunker.......

[Ellaine]

Not for me at any age!
Restructuring can work wonders.
I wonder if this brings mammary transplants closer?

Ellaine

[Jenny Beth]

I saw that article on the news as well and they made it quite clear the intention was to help those who were disfigured and not intended to help those who want to change their looks. But humans being humans someone with enough money will eventually find a way around this and that is very disturbing. "Attractive" people could become victims of foul play for their faces.......what a horrible thought.

[Ashley in Virginia]

Speaking in hypotheticals, Just for kicks I would have a doctor take butt cheeks and put them on my face. :D

Seriously though, the only way I would do it, is if it were a guaranteed 100% success and I would end up as who I feel I am. I wouldn't accept anything short of perfection from something like this.

[Faye Emmette]

Oh Sharon !! I though and thought and slept on it..
Hypothically, Monica Vitti who is perhaps the reason I love and want to be a woman. The spark in my teens. Yes But only if I could be a Monica ( or Modesty Blaise - movie). :thumbsup:

[Christina Nicole]

Facial Feminization Surgery is mostly done by altering the bone structure of the face. The skin and muscles don't count for much. Check Dr. Ousterhout's information here (http://www.drbecky.com/dko.html). And see Lynn Conway's web site, here (http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/~mirror/FFS/LynnsFFS.html). If you've not heard of Lynn Conway, you really should review her website. Very fascinating woman.

I did a lot of research on FFS, GRS, HRT, and all of that some time ago.

Warm regards,
Christina Nicole