Face Transplants...gruesome but wonderful

Relic · #1 05-10-2011, 05:36 AM

I've been following a few of these over the past few years. The risk of failure is really scary. It's as though it's an "all or nothing" proposition. If the tissue is rejected, then what? Frightening to think about..

I've been following this one as of late:
(warning, this is graphic, if you are easily disturbed DO NOT click the link.)

Face transplant patient ready to go home - CNN.com

Man, I wish this guy nothing but luck. I hope it all works out for him.
Think about the spouses in these cases as well. How do you even try to maintain a healthy normal relationship when you are so horribly disfigured?? Wow, boggles the mind..

BrianVengeance · #2 05-10-2011, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Relic

Man, I wish this guy nothing but luck. I hope it all works out for him.
Think about the spouses in these cases as well. How do you even try to maintain a healthy normal relationship when you are so horribly disfigured?? Wow, boggles the mind..

Yeah really... what sane person loves another for more than just looks??? :P

That's just what you do when you love someone, you make it work. He's still the father of his children, the husband of his wife, a son to his parents, etc. What about that has changed? Most of the articles I've read spend a good amout of time talking about how much his daughter absolutely adores him... great lesson in there for all of us.

Relic · #3 05-10-2011, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianVengeance

Yeah really... what sane person loves another for more than just looks??? :P

That's just what you do when you love someone, you make it work. He's still the father of his children, the husband of his wife, a son to his parents, etc. What about that has changed? Most of the articles I've read spend a good amout of time talking about how much his daughter absolutely adores him... great lesson in there for all of us.

Do you truly think that a horrible disfigurement adds absolutely no level of difficulty to a relationship?

gttim · #4 05-10-2011, 06:33 AM

Was discussing this with a doctor friend concerning a young woman who had a hand transplant. The results are never great, and appear to be pretty gruesome for face transplants, and then the person has to stay on rejection drugs for the rest of their life, which has a whole list of problems. Hard to say what one would do in such a situation, but I think I might pass.

bmc · #5 05-10-2011, 06:53 AM

God bless the guy. Pretty courageous.

Relic · #6 05-10-2011, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

In lollipop land we try to present as reality, no. Would I personally have an issue trying to make out with a stoma hole, yes.

Yes the person is still the same, but intimacy is part of a relationship. That would be kinda tough.

For sure. But I'm not even talking about that specifically. I just mean in general - a disfigurement like that brings a whole new level of difficulty to one's life (he'll never drive again and will need to be transported everywhere, he's blind and will need assistance in many things until he gets a proficiency in working through his blindness, he has a trachea tube that will need to be regularly cleaned,etc etc.) and then yes, there is the matter of appearance. You go out in public you will likely be stared at, kids not familiar with him may get scared by it- it's only natural, and it's stuff that he and his spouse likely have to deal with regularly. I suspect that it's not easy.
Couple that with the normal difficulty of raising a child and maintaining a healthy relationship and you see where it can be rough on a spouse. I give these spouses a metric ton of credit.

Skitch it! · #7 05-10-2011, 07:46 AM

After a life changing horrific accident like that, I would imagine any possibility to put back any semblance of the stability and life you had before for yourself, and the ones closest to you is going to be a big consideration to balance.

It's a very brave thing to decide, I wish him and his family all the very best.

Sonic_Death · #8 05-10-2011, 07:58 AM

They need to watch the movie Face/Off a few more times so they can perfect it. But seriously, this is truly amazing stuff. He definitely had good motivation to make it through a surgery like that, and to be in an induced coma for 3 months.. sheesh.

Side Note: If I want to be able to grow a better mustache, can I get a transplanted upper lip?

Jimbob Jones · #9 05-10-2011, 08:31 AM

Incredible...IIRC the first face transplant (lady mauled by a dog) was almost 100% cosmetic; as I was reading the article I was repeatedly astounded at how many functions he'll be able to regain over the next two years.

I pray I'll never be put in this situation (with me or a family member), but the tech seems to be getting so good that it looks like you'll be able to regain a fully working face in ten years time, should the worst happen.

stratovani · #10 05-10-2011, 08:40 AM

WOW! I have to admit that he looks pretty damn good considering what he's been through. The way medical technology is going it will be interesting to see what they'll be able to do in years to come.

BrianVengeance · #11 05-10-2011, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gttim

Was discussing this with a doctor friend concerning a young woman who had a hand transplant. The results are never great, and appear to be pretty gruesome for face transplants, and then the person has to stay on rejection drugs for the rest of their life, which has a whole list of problems. Hard to say what one would do in such a situation, but I think I might pass.

What if your partner developed a medical issue and they went from supermodel hot to morbidly obese? Not trying to pick on you, but where is your line?

BrianVengeance · #12 05-10-2011, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Relic

Do you truly think that a horrible disfigurement adds absolutely no level of difficulty to a relationship?

Never said it would be easy, but would you stop playing bass if you lost a finger and there was an additional level of difficulty/

Relic · #13 05-10-2011, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianVengeance

Never said it would be easy, but would you stop playing bass if you lost a finger and there was an additional level of difficulty/

Why are you fixating on a single point? I never said that his wife should leave him or that I'd leave my wife if she got morbidly obese, or that I'd stop playing bass if I lost a finger, etc..., what I'm saying is that the spouse should get some credit as well for sticking with him through what must be a difficult situation. Sheesh

hover · #14 05-10-2011, 09:19 AM

can we leave superficialities and bickering out of this for now and look at this for what it is? It's a medical miracle, and furthermore, a heartwarming thing for both the Dad and the Daughter. Such a lofty goal ( to some) as simply being able to feel your kid's kiss on your face....that science was able to give him that and that it was more important to him than much anything else? Awesome. I am happy for them.

Oh, and to those hung up on the whole "what if" about the spouse and it being hard to stay with them or whatever, I ask, would you abandon a child because they were deformed / autistic / mentally handicapped? If so, I think you have "love" confused with something decidedly different and trivial.

Touchez · #15 05-10-2011, 09:50 AM

The doctors did a damn good job on that face implant, I'll say that much. He doesn't even look even remotly the same.

gttim · #16 05-11-2011, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianVengeance

What if your partner developed a medical issue and they went from supermodel hot to morbidly obese? Not trying to pick on you, but where is your line?

I was not talking about a partner, but me. I was referring to a transplant for a non-life threatening vs. anti-rejection drugs, which are tough on people. I have not read the story on that guy because I would have a tough time reading it and looking at pics. If I could avoid a transplant to avoid anti-rejection drugs, I would. He might not have been able to avoid it.

A guy from my old neighborhood decided to die from cancer rather than have surgery which would have removed his jaw and disfigured him. I would have similar thoughts. I am vain.

My ex said before our marriage that if either of us got fat, it was grounds for divorce. I found other reasons, but obesity would have had a similar conclusion. I, and her, lived very active and athletic lives. If it was a wife I loved and had children with, and it happened for medical reasons? I don't know. If it happened because of lifestyle? Yes, I would opt-out.