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Original poster

Face transplant

33 replies

gggimmesnowsnow · 05/12/2005 10:38

What do you think about this story?

I think that the whole happenstance side of it is very creepy - both suicidal, both the same age. Read an article yesterday that banged on about hte recipient being a single mother living in a council flat, as though that made any difference. Although in a way, perhaps it does? She does seem so tragic and alone and in the proverbial sh*t.

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Original poster
gggimmesnowsnow · 05/12/2005 10:46

;

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Original poster
gggimmesnowsnow · 05/12/2005 10:51

sob. this is like having a coffee morning and no one turning up

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cod · 05/12/2005 10:52

Message withdrawn

feastofsteven · 05/12/2005 10:54

interesting article ggg. At first glance, I thought, what's the problem, but then I thought that especially given the experimental nature of the surgery and anti-rejection drugs, was it wise for the first ever candidate to be a depressed lady? I don't have any issue as to the happenstance side of it though - i.e. as to history of donor.

Original poster
gggimmesnowsnow · 05/12/2005 10:54

is jammy dodger a euphemism for a patéd wanger?

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snowfalls · 05/12/2005 10:54

She must have known it was an experiment, if not she could sue their arses off. I think the fact that their lifestyles were similair are purely coincedense.

cod · 05/12/2005 10:54

Message withdrawn

Original poster
gggimmesnowsnow · 05/12/2005 10:55

I am fascinated and repelled by this face story. It is so twisted.

Would make a great book.

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doormat · 05/12/2005 10:59

ggg read the article
hopefully the transplant may enable the recipient to be able to appreciate life abit more now.
What a hellish time for her, we have all felt depressed, some suicidal some not but to have your face bitten off well that would be horrendous.

inameeting · 05/12/2005 11:12

This operation is a strange and wonderful opportunity for hope born out of a weirdly symmetrical tragic situation. I cannot imagine what the recipient must be going through, she's certainly got a lot of stuff to think about, not least the fragility of life and how precious it is. She'll have a permanent reminder of that every time she looks in the mirror. Or kisses her daughters. I wish her all the best .

Original poster
gggimmesnowsnow · 05/12/2005 11:15

Shall I gi to Paris and ask her if she wants to write a book about it? Or is that vulture-ish and vulgar and ambulance chasing?

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Twiglett · 05/12/2005 11:15

yes one feels a certain revulsion and amazement at the same time

the thing that got to me the most was the concept that it will take up to 6 months and she may still reject it

but just imagine needing this kind of operation in the first place .. how sad and horrific

misdee · 05/12/2005 11:17

i think it gives hope for people who are disfigured. but also too sci-fi for me (face/off anyone?)

Original poster
gggimmesnowsnow · 05/12/2005 11:22

Would it be awful if she was better looking after the transplant than before the incident?

Incident is not quite the right word here....

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feastofsteven · 05/12/2005 11:28

do you think they made an effort to find a donor with a similar face? I just wonder how on earth anyone would adapt to a new face (but then again some people do have drastic plastic surgery for purely cosmetic reasons)..

Original poster
gggimmesnowsnow · 05/12/2005 11:30

Well they were the same age, so that knocks off the problem of wrinkles etc. Hadn't thought about that one before.

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feastofsteven · 05/12/2005 11:31

it is an absolutely fascinating story isn't it ggg?

Original poster
gggimmesnowsnow · 05/12/2005 11:32

Yes, I want to be her ghost (ghoul ?) writer....

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feastofsteven · 05/12/2005 11:37

think you'ld have to give it a few years tho, for her to settle down into her new face/life etc

Original poster
gggimmesnowsnow · 05/12/2005 11:40

They would sell the life rights now (sorry!)

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Kittypickle · 05/12/2005 11:41

Fascinating story but I don't think it should have gone ahead. It's one thing having a transplant of an internal organ, a procedure which is well established and there's been enough cases now for the psychological support needed to be pretty well established. But to have the world's first transplant with all the media attention surrounding it, the possibility of rejection, the immuno-suppressants and having to come to terms with having tried to take your own life and living with someone else's face seems too much to me - especially given that any psychological support will also be experimental. I think it's too much for her to cope and suspect that there's a really good chance that she will try suicide again. Hope I'm wrong and that there's a happy ending.

Original poster
gggimmesnowsnow · 05/12/2005 11:44

I don't hthink she was in any real position to avoid the transplant - she was unable to eat, drink or breath normally.

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Earlybird · 05/12/2005 11:45

Agree with kittypickle. This woman has alot to deal with, without having her face/story visible in the media all over the world. However, I suspect that the surgery was done for free if she would agree to the publicity for the proceedure/surgeon.

feastofsteven · 05/12/2005 11:45

but would another form of reconstructive surgery been possible, but meant more operations etc?

snowfalls · 05/12/2005 11:51

I saw a documentary on TV last year about face transplants, and it said you would only slightly resemble the donor because it is your own bone structure that determines how you look above anything else, so for example if they put Kylie's face on me, I would look alot more like me and barely resemble kylie at all, the only similarities (sp?) would be, skin tone, lip thickness (but not shape) and the nose.