Face Transplantation and Identity: Hidden Identities, Exceptions, and Exclusions

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Surgical Innovation
• Transplantation Science

Background:

• Face transplantation is a decade-old surgical option for restoring facial functions and aesthetics.
• Significant ethical debates persist due to risks and the necessity of lifelong immunosuppression.
• The procedure remains experimental with unresolved philosophical and ethical considerations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the role of identity in justifying facial allograft transplantation.
• To critically analyze four under-explored aspects of identity in this context.
• To investigate the discourse surrounding face transplantation and its emphasis on aesthetic identity.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of identity minimization in vascular composite allograft transplantation.
• Examination of identity manipulation within immunosuppression protocols.
• Exploration of identity de-centering in face transplantation for the blind.
• Assessment of compromised identity due to fading face recognition and psychological exclusion.

Main Results:

• Identity is often minimized in vascular composite allograft transplantation.
• Immunosuppression involves complex identity management.
• Face transplantation for the blind presents unique identity de-centering challenges.
• Impaired face recognition can lead to psychological exclusion and identity compromise.

Conclusions:

• The public discourse on face transplantation prioritizes individual aesthetic identity.
• Social dimensions of identity are frequently overlooked in face transplantation discussions.
• A more comprehensive understanding of identity is crucial for ethical considerations in facial allografts.