New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Reference Terms
from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Face transplant

A face transplant is a skin graft that involves replacing part or all of a patient's face with a donor face. The world's first full-face replant operation was on a nine year-old girl, whose face was ripped off when her hair was caught in a thresher. The grass-cutting machine amputated her face and scalp. The machine caught one of the girl's braids and then pulled her head in. Her mother witnessed the accident. The patient arrived at the hospital unconscious with her face in two pieces in a plastic bag. The operation was successful, although the child was left with some muscle damage as well as scarring around the perimeter where the facial skin was sutured back on. The world's first partial face transplant on a living human was carried out on November 27, 2005 by a team of surgeons led by Professor Jean-Michel Dubernard and Professor Bernard Devauchelle in Amiens, France. The patient underwent surgery to replace her original face that had been ravaged by her dog. A triangle of face tissue from a brain-dead human's nose and mouth was grafted onto the patient.

Related Stories
 


Health & Medicine News

September 12, 2025

Walking every day could be the simplest and most effective way to prevent chronic lower back pain. A large study involving over 11,000 people found that walking more — not faster — reduces the risk of developing long-term back issues. The ...
Forever chemicals known as PFAS have turned up in an unexpected place: beer. Researchers tested 23 different beers from across the U.S. and found that 95% contained PFAS, with the highest concentrations showing up in regions with known water ...
Researchers have discovered that everyday substances like caffeine can influence how bacteria such as E. coli respond to antibiotics. By examining 94 common drugs and food ingredients, scientists found that certain compounds trigger genetic ...
New research suggests that immunotherapy given before and after surgery could help patients with diffuse pleural mesothelioma, one of the most challenging cancers to treat. A phase II clinical trial tested immunotherapy in resectable cases, with ...
Researchers at NYU Langone Health discovered that cutting off blood flow accelerates cancer growth by prematurely aging the bone marrow and weakening the immune system. In mouse models, restricted blood flow doubled the growth rate of breast tumors, ...
Scientists in Canada have uncovered a surprising culprit behind high blood sugar and liver problems: a hidden fuel made by gut bacteria. This little-known molecule, called D-lactate, slips into the ...
Glioblastoma’s stealthy spread has met a new challenge: MRI-powered fluid flow mapping that reveals where the cancer is likely to invade next. The innovation is now being advanced by a spinoff company to guide personalized cancer ...
Scientists at Stellenbosch University have uncovered a rare class of plant compounds, flavoalkaloids, in Cannabis leaves for the first time. Using advanced two-dimensional chromatography and mass spectrometry, they identified 79 phenolic compounds ...
Metformin, long trusted for diabetes, turns out to work in the brain too. By shutting down Rap1 in the hypothalamus, the drug lowers blood sugar more effectively than previously understood, opening doors for new ...
What we eat as we age may determine how many chronic illnesses we face later in life. A 15-year study of more than 2,400 older adults reveals that diets rich in vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and healthy fats slow the accumulation of diseases like ...
Scientists discovered that certain blood proteins linked to brain injury and inflammation strongly correlate with early signs of memory and cognitive decline, especially in Hispanic and Latino adults. This breakthrough points to a future where ...
Thousands of women are using GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic for weight loss without contraception, leading to unintended pregnancies and potential risks for unborn babies. Experts warn clearer medical guidance is urgently ...

Latest Headlines

updated 12:56 pm ET