First Composite Woman-to-Woman Facial Transplantation in Turkey: Challenges and Lessons to Be Learned

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Transplantation Immunology

Background:

• Facial transplantation is a complex procedure with limited long-term data.
• This case report details the experience of a woman-to-woman partial osteomyocutaneous facial transplant.

Observation:

• The patient experienced a good early aesthetic outcome and social reintegration.
• Long-term challenges included managing immunosuppression complications and requiring revision surgeries.

Findings:

• The patient survived 56 months post-transplant but ultimately succumbed to complications of immunosuppression.
• Successful facial transplantation hinges on sustained post-operative care and patient adherence.

Implications:

• Further case series are needed to establish standardized protocols for composite tissue allotransplantation.
• Transparent sharing of results from facial transplant centers is essential for advancing the field.