How you prepare

Evaluating whether to have a face transplant

Before you receive a face transplant, reflect on these questions:

• Have you weighed the risks of face transplant?
• Can you be fully committed to intense, lifelong follow-up care?
• What benefits do you hope to gain from this surgery?
• Have you tried or talked with your doctors about other treatment options, such as a facial prosthesis or conventional facial reconstruction?

You'll be evaluated by a transplant team. Candidates must:

• Have severe facial disfigurement
• Have a loss of facial function, such as chewing or talking
• Undergo a comprehensive exam that may include X-rays, CT and MRI scans, blood tests, and other measures of physical health
• Undergo an evaluation of their mental and emotional health, coping skills, family and social support, expectations, communication skills, and ability to manage post-transplant care
• Have no history of chronic nerve conditions
• Not be pregnant
• Have no serious medical problems, such as diabetes, heart disease or untreated cancer
• Have had no recent infections
• Be nonsmokers
• Not abuse alcohol or illegal drugs
• Complete a financial evaluation of post-transplant care expenses with a member of the transplant team

Getting ready for your face transplant

Once you're approved for a face transplant, you'll be placed on a waiting list for a donor face. When matching you with a donor face for a transplant, surgeons consider:

• Blood type
• Tissue type
• Skin color
• Comparable ages of donor and recipient
• Compatible facial size of donor and recipient

Your wait time can be unpredictable because it's usually not known when a donor face that matches your needs will become available.

In the meantime, you can prepare by:

• Undergoing pre-surgery evaluations. You'll need to visit the transplant center periodically so that your transplant team can do blood tests and evaluate whether you're ready for a transplant.
• Arranging for travel and lodging. Your transplant team will ask you to stay at a location that allows you to arrive at the hospital within a short time once you are contacted about your transplant date. After your surgery, you'll likely be asked to stay near your transplant center for two to three months. Your transplant team may have recommendations for long-term lodging if you need it.
• Staying in touch with your transplant team. Let your transplant team know immediately if you have any changes to your medical care, such as starting new medications, having a blood transfusion or receiving a diagnosis of a chronic medical condition.