Indian Transplant Newsletter Vol. IV Issue NO.13. Oct 2002 - Feb 2003
Print ISSN 0972 - 1568

Face off

Indian Transplant Newsletter.
Vol. IV Issue NO.13. Oct 2002 - Feb 2003
Print ISSN 0972 - 1568
Print PDF


Remember the John Travolta/Nicolas cage movie “Face OFF”  where they exchange appearances – well it looks  real life is about  to imitate reel life. Face transplants could become a reality in as short a time  as the next six months or a year with grafting  of a dead  persons face  on to a living one. While this would help people disfigured by injury or disease, the psychological implications of a face transplant both for the recipient and the family of the donor cannot be ignored.

As Dr Peter Bitler, a leading plastic surgeon at the Royal Tree Hospital in London said, “It is not a question of whether we can do it but should we do it … The technology is there but we have concerns whether we should use it.  This is a debate we need to have”.  Dr. Bitler said that although the person receiving a face transplant would not look exactly like the donor, the texture and tone of skin and facial expressions would be the same. He also said that while on the one hand a face transplant was like any other transplant in the sense that it could be done and achieved with modern immunosuppression, it, on teh other hand, was different from the rest of the transplants because it was visible and was a part of one's expression of emotion. 

There is also concern that face transplants could be misused by  riminals wanting  to change their appearance and once  could potentially  have a real life  “Face Off” situation on hand.


To cite : Shroff S, Navin S. Face off. Indian Transplant Newsletter Vol. IV Issue NO.13. Oct 2002 - Feb 2003.
Available at:
https://www.itnnews.co.in/indian-transplant-newsletter/issue13/FACE-OFF-753.htm

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