Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026
09:14
Surgical Approach to Full Soft Tissue Face Allograft Procurement for Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation
Published on: December 30, 2025
Face transplantation: a leading surgeon's perspective.
1Department of Plastic Surgery, The Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA. siemiom@ccf.org
Transplantation Proceedings
|October 15, 2011
Summary
This study details twenty years of experience in vascularized composite allografts (VCA), culminating in the first US face transplantation. It covers protocol development, regulatory hurdles, and the crucial multidisciplinary team approach for successful outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Surgical innovation in reconstructive transplantation.
- Advancements in vascularized composite allografts (VCA).
Background:
- Presents twenty years of research and development in VCA.
- Highlights the progression towards complex facial allotransplantation.
Observation:
- Outlines experimental and cadaveric VCA models.
- Details the development of a face transplantation protocol and IRB approval process.
Findings:
- Discusses scientific, regulatory, and financial considerations for face transplantation.
- Emphasizes the critical role of a multidisciplinary team.
Implications:
- Covers technical aspects of face transplantation.
- Reports on immunologic and functional patient outcomes.
