Second full-face transplant performed in Boston

April 29th, 2011 - 7:47 pm ICT by Aishwarya Bhatt  

Boston, April 29 (THAINDIAN NEWS) The second full face transplant in the United States has been performed at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Doctors and hospital staff spent about 14 hours to fully restore the face of Mitch Hunter. It is the second such transplant in the United States in two months.

Hunter had car accident that destroyed her face in 2001. A group of about 30 health workers were involved in the procedure which involved replacement of Hunter’s nose, eyelids, lips, facial muscles and controlling nerves. The doctors say the process was successful saying they expect full recovery from Hunter.

The first successful full face transplant in the United States was carried out last month on a Texas construction worker. There have been other partial face transplants in the past as well. Brigham and Women’s Hospital has placed Charla Nash on the waiting list for face and hand transplants. Nash’s face and hands were damaged after a friend’s chimpanzee attacked her. The gruesome incident was reported by the international press as well.

Dr. Bohdan Pomahac led the team of surgeons to perform the procedure.

The family who donated the face to Hunter has asked that their identity should not be revealed.

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