title: Facial Transplantation.
abstract: Reconstruction of severe facial deformities poses a unique surgical challenge: restoring the aesthetic form and function of the face. Facial transplantation has emerged over the last decade as an option for reconstruction of these defects in carefully selected patients. As the world experience with facial transplantation grows, debate remains regarding whether such a highly technical, resource-intensive procedure is warranted, all to improve quality of life but not necessarily prolong it. This article reviews the current state of facial transplantation with focus on the current controversies and challenges, with particular attention to issues of technique, immunology, and ethics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Jack E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA. Electronic address: Eric.genden@mountsinai.org.
authors.forename: Eric M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Genden
mesh_terms: D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D054445:Facial Transplantation / Q000941:ethics / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018579:Patient Selection; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents
keywords: Composite tissue allotransplantation; Ethics; Facial transplantation; Immunosuppression; Microvascular surgery