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Updated: Jun 30, 2025
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Facial Transplants in Xenopus laevis Embryos
Published on: March 26, 2014
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Long-term outcomes and future challenges in face transplantation
Annachiara Cavaliere1, Umberto Rega1, Sebastiano Grimaldi1
1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Università degli studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Napoli, Italy.
Summary
Face transplantation (FT) offers a solution for severe facial deformities, but long-term success requires careful patient selection and management of challenges like chronic rejection and immunosuppression.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Innovation
- Transplantation Medicine
- Reconstructive Surgery
Background:
- Face transplantation (FT) is a complex procedure for severe facial deformities.
- Restoring facial form and function presents significant challenges, especially for central defects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the long-term outcomes of face transplantation.
- To identify challenges and potential pitfalls associated with FT.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review following PRISMA guidelines (Nov 2005 - Jan 2023).
- Searched PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE for "face transplant" and related terms.
- Analyzed data on surgical teams, patient demographics, outcomes, rejection, and reoperations.
Main Results:
- 48 FT procedures performed over two decades; 23 patients followed for ≥3 years.
- Common causes: ballistic trauma (44.6%) and burns (25.5%).
- Chronic rejection led to graft loss and retransplantation in 2 patients; additional surgeries were frequent.
Conclusions:
- FT is a viable option for extensive facial disfigurement.
- Success factors include patient selection, multidisciplinary care, and post-operative management.
- Lifelong immunosuppression and chronic rejection remain significant challenges.
Keywords:
Chronic rejectionFace transplantFace transplantation outcomesFacial allotransplantationFacial disfigurementVascularized composite tissue allotransplantation
