[Broca (OP)]

I was listening to the news and caught the very last part of a story.I of course have not found any other information on this topic and wondered what all of you great minds had heard, if anything. I understand that a couple of Drs. in Boston are trying to get permission to do a face transplant. They say that skin grafting does not allow the skin to be as supple or is as elastic as real facial skin, therefore they want to transplant an entire face. I do not know where the face will come from or what the details might be, but thought it would make good foder for discussion.

[Donnah]

Cool!  If it works it could make a huge difference to burn victims.  Bet it hurts in more ways than one to have your skin full of scar tissue and lose elasticity.

[tweener]

That is interesting.  I would assume the donor would be someone killed in an accident or something, just like other organ donors.

----
John - The Eternal Pessimist.

[Luckygurl 08]

Why would anyone want some dead persons face. thats just weird, i mean what if your grandma died and you all of a sudden see somone walkin down the street with her face. that would be terrible.

[neilep]

Yep...I read it on the train today.....incredible eh ?....this must have been in the pipeline since at least 1997 (and probably way before)....when 'Face Off' was released.

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'  

[Donnah]

quote:Originally posted by Luckygurl 08

Why would anyone want some dead persons face. thats just weird, i mean what if your grandma died and you all of a sudden see somone walkin down the street with her face. that would be terrible.

It wouldn't look like "Grama's" face if it was fitted over someone else's bone structure.

Personally I'm delighted that more of my body parts can be used beneficially when I'm finished with them.

[neilep]

quote:Originally posted by Luckygurl 08

Why would anyone want some dead persons face. thats just weird, i mean what if your grandma died and you all of a sudden see somone walkin down the street with her face. that would be terrible.

Burn Victims for one....or any facial scarring that is so bad that it would warrant such a procedure........but no doubt...once it's been perfected....there will be commercial cosmetic possibilities too....

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'  

[Broca (OP)]

I agree with you Donnah. How exciting that we can continue to help people and make their lives better even in our death.

[Luckygurl 08]

yeah i guess it is for a good cause but i still cant see myself giving up my own face. its weird cuz i dont really have a problem with organ donation just the face thing. plus cant people just get plastic surgery or something? i would imagine it would all be in the same price range.

[neilep]

....don't think there's just no substitute for good ol human skin !!..and a ready made face would solve a lot of problems too....and as Donnah said...it would not look like the doner face (well...maybe a little) as the bone structure would be completely different and there would be nips and tucks and stretches etc etc.....

Oh Joy !!!

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'  

[Luckygurl 08]

ok ok, yeah i guess your right but i still would not do it!

[Broca (OP)]

The most only case I have read about, which was yesterday,was of a severly burned young woman who had been stunning prior to the accident. The pluses to this are that real skin will stretch, move, and allow for more natural expressions to be seen. Grafts are less pliable. This wouls not be a cosmetic surgery Lucky, but more a case of trying to resume some normalcy to a persons life after something catastrophic occuring.

[Luckygurl 08]

wow, never thought of it that way. good point

[neilep]

Hey !!..I said Burn Victims too !!.Hmmpth !!! have I been sent to Coventry or what ? *sulk but smiles*

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'  

[Luckygurl 08]

i already said that what you said was a good point![:p]

[neilep]

....sorry !!...I'm having a bad hair day !!..not sleeping for two days/nights kinda makes me a little touchy !!...it allsew maykes meye shpelling baaad !!

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'  

[Luckygurl 08]

ok ok i get ya. well a good thing to do when your tired is SLEEP []

[neilep]

.....yes sleep....wish it was that easy !!!.....if I could go to sleep I would !! *sigh*

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'  

[Luckygurl 08]

oh. yep i know how you feel

[neilep]

TONIGHT  here in the UK ,CHANNEL 4 9PM (24th June 2004) set the video for Equinox prog all about Face Transplants.... ....I say set the video cos we're all gonna be watching the football/soccer eh ?

'Men are the same as women...just inside out !'