A team of more than 30 people recently conducted the very first full facial transplant in The United States at a Boston hospital. Dallas Wiens underwent the procedure after an accident in 2008 left him blind, and without facial features. The techniques and protocols for facial transplants have only been developed in the past decade. Wiens underwent only the second full facial transplant ever performed.
Surgery for 15 hrs means a brand new face for a Texan male
There was a terrible accident that Dallas Wiens had to suffer through in 2008, states the New York Daily News. He was working in Fort Worth, Texas as a construction worker. While on a boom lift, he lost control. He then got electrocuted when his head touched power lines. Most of Wiens’ face was scorched off, and he spent three months in a coma. Doctors were able to place skin grafts on his face, however his nose and ears were entirely burned off. The accident also left Wiens blind. There was a tissue donation made so that a Boston, Mass., team could do a facial transplant. Brigham and Women’s Hospital did the surgery. Dr. Bohdan Pomahac is a plastic surgeon who headed a team of over 30 in the procedure. MSNBC states that the United States full facial transplant took fifteen hours to complete.
DOD bankrolls procedure
The Medicaid coverage would not cover Mr. Wiens anymore because of the limits. He didn’t have health insurance at the time of his accident, and the two dozen other procedures he had undergone were covered under Medicare. The disability benefits and other surgeries cost a lot though. The Medicaid coverage limit was reached. In order for Wiens to undergo the procedure, the Department of Defense agreed to pick up the tab as part of a grant for transplant research. Until he dies, Wiens could have to continue taking immunosuppressants. This will make it so his body accepts the brand new face. Several are calling the brand new health care “Obama Care.” It’s because of a provision in this that Wiens will, until he is 26 and can get on Medicare, be on his father’s insurance. Wiens could be blind still, even with all the changes. He will get brand new ears, lips and a nose though.
First total facial transplant in the United States
This is the very first time in the U.S. that a total facial transplant was given to somebody with 25 year old Wiens. In Spain, the first ever facial transplant happened in 2006. It was only a partial transplant. It was only a few years later before the first full facial transplant happened. It was in 2009 and was done in France. Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston had a facial transplant done before. It was in 2009 and was only a partial transplant. The very first ever facial transplant performed in the U.S. took place in 2008, in accordance with the Chicago Tribune, when Connie Culp received a partial face transplant after being disfigured in 2004 when she was hit with a shotgun blast.
Information from
New York Daily News
nydailynews.com/news/national/2011/03/21/2011-03-21_dallas_wiens_fort_worth_dad_becomes_3rd_man_in_us_to_receive_full_face_transplan.html
MSNBC
msnbc.msn.com/id/42192670/ns/health-health_care/?gt1=43001
Chicago Tribune
chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-usreport-us-face-trtre72k4al-20110321,0,1447551.story?track=rss
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