Patient expectations in facial transplantation

Meeting patients' expectations is essential for successful outcomes in reconstructive surgery. In the case of new procedures like facial transplantation that carry with them many unknowns and real, or potential, risk of toxic side effects this becomes especially important. In this study we assessed patient expectations in facial transplantation by surveying individuals with facial disfigurement (n = 34), reconstructive surgeons (n = 45), and controls from the general population (n = 148). Questions focused on quality of life improvement, esthetic and functional outcomes. Student t test was used to compare means of the 3 study groups. All groups projected low quality of life for nontreated disfigured persons, controls responding the most negatively (M = 1.91), followed by disfigured persons (M = 2.91; t = 2.14, P